Kerala state has four operational international airports as of 2024, which makes it an Indian state with most international airports alongside Tamil Nadu. Kerala is also the only state with the closest proximity to multiple international/domestic airports in the country. All four international airports lie in very close proximity, which makes it easy for the people in Kerala to access air travel. The state also has four defence airports that are widely used by the Indian Armed Forces. Airports in Kerala provide domestic transport, support tourism in Kerala and also serve the high number of expatriates belonging to the state. The presently operating airports in the state of Kerala are as follows:
- Trivandrum International Airport in Shankumugham in state capital of Thiruvananthapuram district
- Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery in Ernakulam district
- Calicut International Airport in Karipur in Malappuram district
- Kannur International Airport in Mattanur in Kannur district
- Sabarimala Greenfield International Airport - Pathanamthitta in Cheruvally in the borders of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts (Pre-construction stage)
The first airport was started in Quilon during the 1920s but ceased operation when an accident involving a training aircraft at the boundary of the aerodrome resulted in the death of the pilot and the trainee. There are two defence airports also situated in Kerala, each being operated by the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
| Cities served | ICAO | IATA | Airport name | Category | Ownership | Passenger terminals | Runway length (m) | Status | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kannur, Wayanad, Madikeri (Karnataka) | VOKN | CNN | Kannur International Airport | International | PPP | 1 | 3,050 | Operational | 
|
| — | — | INA Ezhimala | Defence | Indian Navy | Operational | ||||
| — | — | Kannur Territory Aerodrome | Defence | Indian Army | Operational | ||||
| Kochi, Thrissur | VOCI | COK | Cochin International Airport | International | PPP | 4 | 3,445 | Operational | 
|
| VOCC | — | INS Garuda | Defence | Indian Navy | Operational | ||||
| Kollam | — | — | Kollam Airport | Domestic | Travancore Kingdom | Closed | 
| ||
| Kottayam, | — | — | Sabarimala International Greenfield Airport | Future | PPP | Future | |||
| Idukki | — | — | Sathram Airstrip | Airstrip | NCC (India) | Operational | |||
| Malappuram, | VOCL | CCJ | Kozhikode International Airport | International | AAI | 1 | 2,860 | Operational | 
|
| Kozhikode | — | — | Thiruvambady International Airport | Future | PPP | ||||
| Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) | VOTV | TRV | Thiruvananthapuram International Airport | International | PPP (Owner: AAI Operator: ATIAL Adani Group) | 2 | 3,407 | Operational | _-_panoramio.jpg)
|
| — | — | Southern Air Command | Defence | Indian Air Force | Operational | ||||
| Kasargod | — | — | Bekal Airport | Future | Future | ||||
| Kozhikode, Malappuram | — | — | Chelari Airport | Domestic | Birla Group | Closed |
References
- "Kerala set to get a fourth international airport in Kannur". Hindustan Times. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- "Airports in Kerala". Iris Holidays. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- "Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response". The Hindu. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- "Runway: Team visits Asramam Maidan". TNIE. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- "'Asramam Maidan not suitable for airport'". TNIE. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- "കരിപ്പൂരിനുമുമ്പ് യന്ത്രപക്ഷികളിറങ്ങിയ ചേളാരി; ചേളാരിയിലെ വിമാനത്താവളവും 1969 ലെ അപകടവും". 8 August 2020.
- "1969ലും വിമാനം തകർന്നു; ചേളാരി 'വിമാനത്താവളത്തിൽ'... | Madhyamam". 8 August 2020.
- "ചേളാരി 'വിമാന താവളം'; പറന്നിറങ്ങിയ ചരിത്ര നാൾവഴികൾ ഇതാണ്". 14 August 2024.
- Chandran, VP (2018). Mathrubhumi Yearbook Plus - 2019 (Malayalam ed.). Kozhikode: P. V. Chandran, Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Limited, Kozhikode.
