Tiruchirapalli Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Tiruchirapalli International Airport

---

image-width =
caption =
IATA = TRZ
ICAO = VOTR
type = Public
owner = Ministry of Civil Aviation
operator = Airports Authority of India
city-served = Tiruchirapalli and adjacent districts
location = Tiruchirapalli
elevation-f = 288
elevation-m = 88
coordinates = coord|10|45|55|N|078|42|35|E|type:airport
website = [http://aai.aero/allAirports/Trichy_airpo_gi.jsp http://aai.aero]
metric-rwy = yes
r1-number = 09/27
r1-length-f = 8,136
r1-length-m = 2,480
r1-surface = Asphalt
footnotes =

Tiruchirapalli Airport or Trichy Airport Airport codes|TRZ|VOTR is a major airport mostly serving Tiruchirapalli and adjacent districts in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The airport, located on the NH 210 Tiruchirapalli-Rameswaram highway, is convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on [ [http://aai.aero/allAirports/Trichy_airpo_gi.jsp Tiruchirapalli Airport at the Airports Authority of India] ] south of the city centre. The airport serves domestic and international destinations.

History

The airport built by British during World War II,was mainly used by the British airforce during the war.The airport was given permission for civilian operations after the war,though the actual passenger traffic started in early 1980s. Air Lanka started its operations in 1981 with a weekly flight to Colombo and subsequently increasing its operations to 11 flights a week. Indian Airlines started its operations to Chennai and mid-east countries in mid 1990s. The airport now handles flights to various destinations including Sharjah, Colombo, Singapore, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai.

Expansion

Tiruchirapalli Airport is on Rs 150 crore expansion mode since 2004. The runway was expanded from convert|6000|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=4 to convert|8136|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=4. The apron was expanded to hold 10 aircraft and new taxiway was constructed at cost of Rs 40 cr. The new integrated terminal building with world class features is being constructed at cost of Rs 75 crs. The existing terminal building is also being upgraded. The new terminal building is expected to be operational from October 2008.

Further, Tiruchirapalli Airport is one of the non-metro airports selected for Rs 200 cr city side development on public-private partnership model. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already appointed a legal advisor for this and will shortly release a tender for the work. AAI has proposed Phase II expansion on convert|1000|acre|km2|abbr=on. The expansion includes extending the runway to convert|12500|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=4, construction of cargo, hangars, parking bay for aircraft maintenance and other works. The state government would provide land free to AAI for the phase II expansion. The Phase II expansion has been pending for a year due to land acquisition issues. People in and around the airport have opposed the move to acquire their land. The expansion gained momentum recently with the district administration deciding to go ahead with land acquisition opposite to the airport and also possible closure of the Tiruchirapalli-Pudukottai highway.

Airlines and destinations

Domestic

*Air India Express (Chennai)
*Indian Airlines (Chennai, Trivandrum)
*Kingfisher Airlines (Chennai)
*Kingfisher Red (Chennai)
*Paramount Airways (Ahmedabad,Chennai)

International

*Air India Express (Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore)
*Indian Airlines (Sharjah)
*SriLankan Airlines (Colombo)

Proposed

*AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur - From November 1st)
*Air Arabia (Sharjah)
*Air India Express (Abu Dhabi)
*Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
*Oman Air (Muscat)
*Tiger Airways (Singapore)

References

External links

* [http://aai.aero/allAirports/Trichy_airpo_gi.jsp Tiruchirapalli Airport] at the Airports Authority of India
*WAD|VOTR
* [http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/19/stories/2006081910540500.htm Trichy Airport Phase I Expansion]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/14/stories/2007051410780100.htm Trichy Airport Phase II Expansion]
* [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/airlines-line-up-to-operate-from-trichy/36064-7.html Airlines Lineup to operate from Trichy Airport]
* [http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/Tiruchi_Airport_to_undergo_expansion_modernisation_drive/articleshow/2919965.cms Tiruchi Airport expansion, modernisation drive ]
* [http://www.blonnet.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022350370700.htm SIA looking at Vizag, Tiruchi routes]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/01/stories/2008060159800600.htm Paramount to start operations from Trichy]