Daijiworld Media Network - Kannur

Kannur, Sep 21: The Kannur Airport will soon start its operations as Air India has successfully landed its test flight there on Thursday, September 20.

The landing was necessary to clear the way for flight operations to start at the fourth airport in Kerala.

Based on the report submitted by the aviation ministry, licence will be issued to the airport and it will be operational by November first week.

The test was conducted by the aviation ministry. The Air India flight took-off from Thiruvananthapuram at 9.45 am and landed at Kannur at 11.38 am. After the Boeing 747, the aero bridge and other facilities for passengers were also tested.

The airport is expected to serve more than one million passengers annually and authorities estimate the number will increase five-fold by 2025.

Built at a cost of Rs 2,292 crore and spread over 2,300 acres, the airport has a runway suitable for Code E aircraft, like the Boeing B-777 and Airbus A-330. It will be extended later for the operation of Code F aircraft, like Airbus A-380. The integrated 95,000 sq meters terminal building, the eighth largest in India, has been built with state-of-the-art facilities.

The airport will benefit residents of the state working in Middle East and tourist destination Kodagu and Mysuru in Karnataka, as well as Kerala’s hilly districts like Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasargod will also benefit.