How many international airports are there in Kerala, India?
Kerala is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It lies along the southwestern coast of India. The state is home to the backwaters, beaches, Ayurveda, and beautiful landscapes. It has been observed that due to its worldwide popularity and huge population of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) employed in the Middle East, Kerala has invested significantly in air connectivity.
Kerala is home to four international airports: Trivandrum, Cochin, Calicut, and Kannur. This has resulted in it being one of the few Indian states to have this level of international connectivity which is because of its global diaspora as well as the successful tourism sector.
1. Trivandrum International Airport (TRV)
It serves as a key gateway for travelers from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, along with domestic routes.
- Significance: First Airport in Kerala to be shifted to international status (1991).
- Facilities: The airport has two terminals, domestic flight Terminal 1, and Terminal 2 for international flights
- Connectivity: Frequent flights to the gulf countries like UAE, Oman and Qatar as well as links to Sri Lanka and Maldives.
2. Cochin International Airport (COK)
Cochin International Airport (COK), located in Nedumbassery near Kochi, is the busiest and largest airport in Kerala. It is also considered the world’s first fully solar-powered airport in the world, which has gained international recognition on sustainability.
- Passenger Traffic: It carries the largest number of international traffic within the state.
- Specialty: A meeting point of Malayali expatriates in the gulf region, particularly in UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Connectivity: Provides a wide network to the Middle East, southeast Asia and even direct flights to Europe.
3. Calicut International Airport (CCJ)
Calicut International Airport is situated in Karipur which is approximately 28 kilometers north of Kozhikode and serves northern Kerala and parts of neighboring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- Significance: This is critical to the traffic of the Gulf countries, where Kozhikode has a high number of expatriates in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE.
- Facilities: It has modern terminals, but operations are limited due to its tabletop runway.
- Connectivity: It operates mainly in Middle Eastern destinations, but also provides domestic connectivity to such destinations as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
4. Kannur International Airport (CNN)
The fourth and the newest is Kannur International Airport, which began operations in December 2018. It caters to the northern Malabar region that had a poor international flight choice before.
- Facilities: Modern infrastructure designed to handle around 2,000 passengers per hour.
- Significance: It is of great benefit to the expatriate population of Kannur, Kasaragod, and nearby regions who work in the Gulf
- Connectivity: Direct flights to Middle East destinations, as well as domestic to metros such as Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai.
Why Kerala Has Four International Airports
Kerala is the only Indian state with four currently operational international airports, largely due to its high diaspora population, especially in the Gulf states. Nearly 2.5 million Malayalis live abroad, creating high demand for international flights. Also, the tourism sector in Kerala needs to have good air connectivity because most foreigners travel to the state to explore Ayurveda, beaches, and backwaters.
The long geography of the state also contributes to it, since the airports are distributed throughout the south (Trivandrum), central (Cochin), north (Calicut and Kannur), this distribution ensures convenient access for residents and travelers across the state
