Kerala’s Kannur Airport to be Operational in September 2018

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Kannur International airport coming up at Mattanur in the northern part of the state would be ready for operation in September 2018, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Addressing the 8th general body meeting of the Kannur International Airport Ltd here, Vijayan said good progress has been made in the work of the airport, the fourth in the state. International and domestic airline firms have expressed interest to operate from the airport, he said.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has accorded permission for Jet Airways to conduct a service to Abu Dhabi and Goair to Dammam, he said. It has also decided to expand the length of runway to 4000 metres from 3050 metres and steps for acquiring land for the same was progressing, the chief minister said.
The work of the runway and integrated terminal would be completed by January next. It was planned to complete the passenger boarding terminal by March 2018, he said. Vijayan said co-operative societies can take shares in the Airport company. The Rs 1,892 crore-airport is being built on 2,000 acres.