Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

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Template:Short description Template:Redirect-for Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox airport

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Template:Airport codes is an international airport that serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and the fifth international airport of India, officially declared in 1991.<ref name="aai">Template:Cite web</ref> The airport, spread over an area of Template:Cvt, the airport is approximately Template:Convert due west from the city centre and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple,<ref name="aai" /> Template:Convert from Kovalam beach, Template:Convert from Technopark and Template:Convert from Vizhinjam International Seaport. It shares a visible proximity to Shankumugham Beach making it the nearest airport to a water body in India as it is just about 0.6 miles (approx. 1 km) away from the Arabian Sea. It is also the southern most international/domestic airport in the Indian subcontinent.

The airport is the second-busiest airport in the state of Kerala, eighth-busiest airport in India in terms of international traffic<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the 16th overall in India, as of 2024. In the financial year 2024-25, the airport handled over 4.8 million passengers, with a total of around 31,800 aircraft movements.<ref name="AAI3"/><ref name="AAI2"/> In addition to civil operations, the airport headquarters the Southern Air Command (India) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Coast Guard for their operations. IAF has an exclusive apron to handle all their operations. Thiruvananthapuram Airport also caters to the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology, which carries out pilot training activities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The airport hosts Air India's narrow body maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit consisting of twin hangars for servicing Boeing 737-type aircraft, servicing mostly Air India Express aircraft.

History

The airport was established in 1932 as part of the Royal Flying Club under the initiative of Lt. Col. Raja Goda Varma, husband of Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, the Rani of Attingal and Travancore Kingdom.<ref name="airport-technology.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Raja Goda Varman, a trained pilot, felt the need for an airport to accommodate Travancore in the aviation map of India and requested the Travancore Durbar to initiate the process of establishing an aerodrome. A detailed report was made and presented to the King by Consort Prince in this regard. It may be mentioned that the King was the brother of Lt. Col. Raja's wife, and the colonel's children were the heirs to the throne.Template:Cn

In 1935, on the royal patronage of Maharaja Chithira Thirunal, Tata Airlines made its maiden flight to the airport using an DH.83 Fox Moth aircraft under command of pilot Nevill Vintcent carrying Jamshed Navoroji, a Tata company official, and Kanchi Dwarakadas, commercial agent of Travancore in Karachi, with a special mail from the Viceroy of British India, Lord Willingdon, wishing birthday greetings to the Maharaja.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The first flight took off on 1 November 1935, carrying mails of Royal Anchal (Travancore Post) to Bombay. In 1938, the Royal Government of Travancore acquired a Dakota as the Maharaja's private aircraft and placed the first squadron of the Royal Indian Air Force (Travancore) for protection of the state from aerial attacks. After Independence, the airstrip was used for domestic flights with the construction of a new domestic terminal, Terminal 1.Template:Cn

International operations were initiated by Air India to cities in the Arabian Peninsula in the late 1970s using Boeing 707.Template:Cn By the early 80s, the then-Indian Airlines started service to Colombo, followed by service to Male. Later, Gulf Air, SriLankan Airlines (then Air Lanka) and Air Maldives (now Maldivian) started operations. These were followed by Indian Airlines, which started a service to Sharjah. On 1 January 1991, TIA was upgraded to an international airport, making it the fifth international airport of India after Delhi, Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.Template:Cn

On 1 March 2011, the first flight operated from the new international terminal, Terminal 2. IX 536 (Air India Express) from Sharjah marked the first arrival. Air India Express operated the first departure to Dubai from this new terminal. IndianOil Skytanking is the company that introduced single-man refuelling in India and started refuelling operations at Trivandrum in March 2016.Template:Cn

This was the main hub for the defunct Kairali Airlines from 9 January 2013 to 2017.Template:Cn

In November 2018, the Central Government cleared a proposal by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for leasing out six of its airports, including Thiruvananthapuram. The following month, AAI commenced an international competitive bidding process to award Operations, Management and Development (OMD) contracts for the six airports.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Adani Group, GMR Group and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) participated in the bidding process that was won by the Adani Group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Since some public interest litigations were filed concerning the bidding process for the airport, the Union Cabinet gave its approval for awarding the airport to Adani subject to the outcome of Writ Petition. Accordingly, AAI signed a letter of agreement with Adani in September 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Adani Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Limited (ATIAL), floated by the Adani Group to run the airport, would operate, manage and develop the airport for fifty years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As per the agreement, ATIAL would get control of the airport only after a concession agreement was executed and the performance bank guarantee was paid and subject to clearance of legal hurdles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Aippasi and Panguni festival processions

For decades, the airport has been traditionally pausing operations and reschedules flights twice a year to enable religious processions to pass through the airfield. The airport issues a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) twice yearly before the runway is closed for the bi-annual Aippasi festival, which falls in Thulam, October–November, and for the Panguni festival in Meenam,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which is held during March–April.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The processions used to pass through the same route even before the airport was established in 1932. The temple issues special passes to participants in the 'aarattu' to pass through the airfield's operational areas. The procession is escorted by priests, members of the erstwhile Travancore Royal family, caparisoned elephants, police band and armed and mounted police personnel besides large number of devotees and is a grand spectacle for onlookers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Facilities

Runway

(From Left) Jet Airways, Vistara and Air India Express flights near the runway getting ready for Takeoff
A FitsAir Airbus A320-232 registered 4R-EXR, at VOTV airport's international terminal

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has a single Template:Convert-long runway,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> equipped to operate any type of aircraft. It has a Template:Convert-long parallel taxiway.<ref name=":0" />

Terminal

The domestic terminal (Terminal 1)

There are two terminals. Terminal 1 is for domestic flights, and Terminal 2 is for all international flights.

The international terminal ground operations are handled by Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd and BIRD GSEC Pvt. Ltd. It has three baggage carousels and elaborate immigration/customs facilities. Flemingo, India's first privately owned duty-free operator, is managing the duty-free shop at the international terminal.

The domestic terminal has basic amenities including cafés, a beer and wine bar, a book-seller, free local calls, a specialised baby care room and phone-recharging points.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Into Plane Services fuelling operations handled by IndianOil Skytanking.

The international terminal (Terminal 2)
IATA code sign outside Terminal 2
Terminal 2 Operational Area

Terminal 1 (Domestic)

The domestic terminal was the first terminal of the airport inaugurated by Chief minister of Kerala EK Nayanar in 1992. It has an area of Template:Convert and can handle 400 passengers at a time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The terminal has two Aerobridges and two remote gates. All domestic flights are operated from here. This terminal is also called as DTB (Domestic Terminal Building).

Terminal 2 (International)

This terminal is called as NITB (New International Terminal Building). Terminal 2 has four aerobridges and three additional jetways and parking bays to accommodate 8 aircraft. The terminal is built opposite to the domestic terminal across the runway and is closer to the city side. The terminal was constructed by the AAI and designed by the UK firm, Pascall+Watson Architects.

The international terminal covers an area of Template:Convert. It can handle the passengers of three Airbus A340s and one Boeing 747 aircraft simultaneously (roughly 1500 passengers).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The annual handling capacity of the terminal is 1.8 million.

The check-in area has a floor area of Template:Convert and an arrival area of Template:Convert. To enable the passengers to check in at any counter, a Common Users Terminal Equipment (CUTE) is installed. X-ray machines are attached to the side of the conveyor belts for faster clearance of baggage.

The entrance to the terminal is from Chacka-Eenchakkal Road. A bridge was built across the Parvathy Puthanar canal to link the international terminal to the Thiruvananthapuram bypass on National Highway 66.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> The international terminal has a car park area that can accommodate about 600 cars.

There is a pre-paid taxi service counter and foreign exchange (EBIXCASH) counter in the arrivals area. Pharmacies operated by Apollo Pharmacy are located within the terminal.<ref name=":0" />

Thiruvananthapuram Airport was included in the Ministry of civil aviation strategic plan for 2010–2015 to upgrade as a Category-A airport by developing to aerodrome CODE 4E/4F, constructing a parallel runway with taxiways alongside both runways and so forth.

As of September 2025, FTI-TTP has commenced at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

(From Right) SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Gulf Air and Air India flights parked at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

Air traffic control

The air traffic control (ATC) tower is Template:Convert tall. There are plansTemplate:When to build a new Template:Convert tall ATC tower for Thiruvananthapuram Airport near the new international terminal. The airport has a CAT-1 instrument landing system (ILS), DVOR and distance measuring equipment (DME). The airport is also equipped with a Mono-pulse Secondary Surveillance Radar, Air Route Surveillance Radar and an Airport Surveillance Radar that allows approach and area control of the airspace around the airport and nearby air routes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

MRO facility

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport hosts Air India's narrow-body maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit consisting of twin hangars for servicing Boeing 737 type aircraft, servicing mostly Air India Express aircraft. The Maintenance Repair Overhaul is set up on Template:Convert of land at a cost of Template:INRConvert. It was commissioned on 16 December 2011. The maintenance of two aircraft can be simultaneously done at the two hangars present at the MRO. The facility is state-of-the-art with Template:Convert of workshop, Template:Convert apron, electrically operated and vertically moving hangar door system, warehouse and office space. The Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility of Air India Charters Limited (AICL) at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport was given permission to carry out the crucial ‘C’ checks of their Boeing 737-800 fleet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As of 2025, the MRO underwent upgrades to allow base and line maintenance, structural repairs, component overhauls among other capabilities. In addition to the two hangars, the facility also hosts component bays, workshops, a dedicated apron and warehouse facilities. In addition to B737, its certification from DGCA (India), FAA, EASA and AS9110C also authorises maintenance of various variants of Airbus A320 family.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref>

On 4 July 2025, it was reported that the airport's existing MRO facility received the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) Part-145 certification, which is the highest recognitions in global aviation safety and compliance. This was following the Royal Air Force's F-35B repair in the facility from 6 to 22 July 2025.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Additionally, Air India plans to establish a new MRO facility beside the existing hangars. This facility will be a dual-unit hangar with a capacity of either a wide-body aircraft or two narrow-body aircraft. While the land for the MRO complex has been earmarked, the internal and board approval for the project is pending following which operations are expected to begin within 24 months.<ref name=":1" />

Other operations

In addition to civil operations, Thiruvananthapuram Airport also caters to IAF and Coast Guard for their strategical operations and Airforce NCC Cadets' training. IAF has an exclusive apron to handle all their operations. Thiruvananthapuram Airport also caters for Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology. The academy has its own hangar facility at the airport. The hangar facility can accommodate 10 trainer aircraft.<ref name="aai.aero">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Expansion

In November 2023, the AAI announced that the new terminal building will be built at an area covering 44,000 sq.m., an increase from the original plan of 2018, and that out of 18 acres, 16 acres will be acquired for extending the runway to accommodate larger aircraft and handle more flights by September 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The expansion process will also involve the relocation of BrahMos Aerospace Trivandrum Limited (BATL) — a wholly owned subsidiary of BrahMos Aerospace — to a Template:Convert land in Nettukaltheri, near Neyyar Dam. The facility is currently engaged in producing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for the Indian Armed Forces.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Airlines and destinations

Template:Airport destination list

Statistics

Template:Airport-Statistics From FY 2020 to FY 2025, Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) saw major fluctuations in traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with passenger numbers dropping from 3.92 million in 2019–20 to just 0.94 million in 2020–21. Recovery began steadily, reaching 1.66 million in 2021–22, 3.46 million in 2022–23, and 4.44 million in 2023–24. By 2024–25, the airport hit a record 4.89 million passengers and 36,504 aircraft movements, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Domestic and international travel were nearly balanced, with 2.25 million and 2.88 million passengers respectively. A new high of 16,578 passengers and 101 movements was recorded on 22 December 2024. The airport averaged 14,614 passengers/day and 86 flights/day in FY 2024–25 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Security

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is listed among the major airports of India. Its safety and security are handled by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security through the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). In the past, airport security was under the control of airport police (under the state government). However, following the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999, airport security was handed over to CISF. Thiruvananthapuram Airport also has advanced security equipment including X-RAY Baggage inspection (X-BIS), Explosive Trace Detection System (ETDS) and provision of an In-Line Baggage Screening system; at the NITB, state-of-the-art Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), Flight Information Display System (fids) and Public Address (PA) systems, as well as an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) for flight information, are there for passengers' convenience.<ref name="aai.aero"/>

The In-Line Baggage Screening system (ILBS) was installed at Terminal 2 on 21 July 2020.

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

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Template:Adani Group Template:Portalbar Template:Airports in India Template:Thiruvananthapuram Template:Tourism in Kerala

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