Kozhikode airport became a reality after a long struggle, which began in 1977 under the leadership of the late K.P. Kesava Menon. Hectic campaigning by spirited industrialists, politicians and the public resulted in the commissioning of the Kozhikode airport on April 13, 1988. From four flights a week then to 400 flights a week now, it has been an eventful journey.
The first direct international flight took off on February 15, 1992. It got the status of an international airport in 2006, which opened it to foreign airline operators. Because of this upgradation, a new terminal was built in early 2009 on 377 acres. The airport now handles around 1,000 people at peak hours and about 20 lakh annually. The car park can accommodate at least 800 cars at a time. It has a runway that is 2,860 m long and 45 m wide.
The airport offers both free and paid services. The free facilities include passenger boarding bridge (aerobridge), passenger trolleys, P.A. system, escalators, lifts, entertainment television, CCTV, FIDS, child care room, meditation/prayer hall, bank and ATMs, post office, telephones (local calls), and toilets. The paid services are travellers’ requisite stall, snack bar, restaurant, money exchange, Internet cafe, duty-free shops, baggage wrapping machine, prepaid taxi, car parking, public comfort station, and a book vending machine.
Kozhikode, maintained growth in both traffic (28.2 per cent) and aircraft movement (38.8 per cent) during the period of global recession. In keeping with the growth and demand, eight foreign and two domestic airline operators commenced operations here in 2008-09. Projects such as apron expansion, a new visitors’ gallery, the construction of a left luggage room, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) barracks, additional staff quarters, and water and sewage treatment plants have been planned at a cost of Rs.15 crore.
Investment in the airport has always been a win-win proposition for the AAI because Kozhikode attracts a large number of people, mainly for three reasons: high emigration to the Gulf, Ayurveda, and its rich historical heritage. The constant emigration in Kerala to the Gulf has seen many international airlines starting flights to destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam (Saudi Arabia), Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh, and Sharjah. Among them are Air India, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, Jet Airways and Oman Air.