Tuticorin Airport

Tuticorin Airport (IATA: TCR, ICAO: VOTK) is a domestic airport serving Thoothukudi and its adjoining districts of Thoothukkudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu.[4] It is located at Vagaikulam, 15.6 km (9.7 mi) west of the city centre, on National Highway 7A. The airport was ISO 9001:2015 quality certified on 13 April 2018. It is the fifth busiest airport in Tamil Nadu after Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai airports.

Tuticorin Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMinistry of Civil Aviation
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesThoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari
LocationVagaikulam, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India
Opened30 April 1992 (1992-04-30)
Time zoneIndian Standard Time (+5:30)
Elevation AMSL39 m / 129 ft
Coordinates08°43′27″N 078°01′33″E
WebsiteTuticorin Airport
Map
TCR is located in Tamil Nadu
TCR
TCR
Location of airport in Tamil Nadu
TCR is located in India
TCR
TCR
TCR (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 1,351 4,435 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2022 - March 2023)
Passengers202,642 (Increase 49.7%)
Aircraft movements3,232 (Increase 42.3%)
Cargo tonnage2 (Increase 50%)
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

Structure
Apron area of the airport

The airport has one asphalt runway, oriented 10/28, 1,349 metres (4,426 ft) long, and 45 metres (148 ft) wide. The taxiway is 15 metres (49 ft) wide and 225 metres (738 ft) long. The airport has two parking bays. Stand 1 is to the east of the apron, and Stand 2 is to the west. Stand No. 1 for an ATR 72 or lesser type of ACFT, and stand No. 2 for a Bombardier Q400 or lesser type of ACFT. while its terminal building can handle 120 passengers during peak hours. Navigational aids at Tuticorin airport include NDB TU, PAPI lights, and an aerodrome beacon. The DGCA has granted it a higher category license, moving it from VFR to IFR on 30 June 2020. Tuticorin Airport is capable of all-weather day and night operations at low visibility of less than 5 metres (16 ft). The air traffic control tower is located to the north of Apron and has Aerodrome Control (ADC), Surface Movement Control (SMC), and Approach Control (APP) units. The air traffic services unit is provided with meteorological information.[5]

Expansion

A master plan for upgrading the airport in phases had been prepared by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Government of Tamil Nadu has handed over 600.97 acres of land free from encumbrance to the Airports Authority of India on 31 December 2018 for the expansion. An additional 110 acres of land have been set aside for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Coastguard. As part of the 96.77 crore expansion project initiated on 25 July 2020 the following activities are planned:[6]

  • Expansion of runway width from 30 to 45 m (98 to 148 ft) to handle Code-4C aircraft.
  • Expansion of the apron to accommodate five A321 aircraft measuring 191 m × 89 m (627 ft × 292 ft) in dimension.
  • New isolation bay for Code C aircraft and a 244.4 m × 30 m (802 ft × 98 ft) taxi link way.

Night landing facilities were established at the airport on 29 June 2020, and their first operation began on 3 July 2020.

In September 2020, the Airports Authority of India stated that it is initiating a project that includes widening the runway, constructing a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, and constructing a new terminal building at a total cost of 381 crore. It will be operational by December 2023. The new terminal building will cover an area of 13,530 square metres, and be able to handle 600 passengers during peak hours. A technical block, a fire station, an isolation bay, aprons, and five aircraft parking bays for handling Airbus A320 type aircraft are also part of the project.[7]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
IndiGoBangalore, Chennai

Statistics
Annual passenger traffic at TCR airport. See Wikidata query.

Naming the airport

Demands by Public

There are strong demands to operate direct flight services to Hyderabad and Mumbai.

See also

References
  1. "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  3. "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. "Demand to modernise Tuticorin airport". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 24 May 2013.
  5. "Airport website". Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  6. Sudhakar, P. (25 July 2020). "Expansion of Thoothukudi airport runway begins". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  7. "Tuticorin Airport Being Upgraded For Rs 381 Crore: Airports Authority Of India". www.bloombergquint.com. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  8. "கல்விக் கட்டணம் அரசே கையாளும்; 24 மணி நேரமும் கடைகள் இயங்கும்: சமக தேர்தல் அறிக்கை வெளியீடு". இந்து தமிழ் (in Tamil). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
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