The Trivandrum International terminal is located approximately 3.7 km (2.3 mi) due west from the city centre, 16 km (9.9 mi) from Kovalam beach, 13 km (8.1 mi) from Technopark Trivandrum and 21 km (13 mi) from the proposed Vizhinjam International Seaport
In addition to civil operations, Trivandrum Airport also caters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Coast Guard for their strategic operations. IAF have an exclusive apron to handle all their operations. Trivandrum airport also caters for the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology which carries out pilot training activities.
The airport was established in 1932 as part of the Royal Flying Club under the initiative of Colonel Goda Varma Raja, husband of HRH Princess Karthika Thirunal of Travancore Kingdom.[8] Col G.V Raja, being a trained pilot, felt the need an airport to accommodate Travancore in the aviation map of India.
In 1935, on royal patronage of H.H Maharaja Chitra Thirunal, Tata Airlines made its maiden flight to the airport using DH.83 Fox Moth aircraft under command of India's first pilot Nevill Vintcent, carried two passengers Jamshed Navoroji, a Tata company official, and Kanchi Dwarakadas, commercial agent of Travancore to Bombay Presidency along with a special mail from Viceroy of British India, Lord Willingdon wishing birthday greetings to the Maharaja.
The first flight from the airport took off on 1 November 1935, carrying mails of Royal Anchal (Travancore Post) to Bombay. Soon in 1938, the Royal Government of Travancore acquired a Dakota aircraft as Maharaja's private aircraft and placed 1st squadron of Royal Indian Air Force (Travancore) for protection of state from aerial attacks. After Independence, the airstrip was used for handling domestic flights with construction of a domestic terminal- T1.
International operations were initiated by Air India to several cities in the Middle East during the latter half of the 80s. Very soon, SriLankan Airlines (then Air Lanka) & Air Male joined the race. On 1 January 1991, it was upgraded to an international airport, making it the first such airport in India outside the metropolitan cities.
On 1 March 2011, The first flight operated from the new international terminal. IX 536 (Air India Express) from Sharjah marked the first arrival and also Air India Express operated the first departure to Dubai from this new terminal. All the international departing passengers must pay INR 575 as users fee from 1 March 2011.
There are three terminals, Terminal 1 is unused, Terminal 2 serving solely domestic flights The domestic terminal has an area of 9,200 m2 (99,000 sq ft) and the Terminal 3, (NITB: New International Terminal Building) serving international flights.These terminals are spread over an area of 2,880 acres (1,170 ha). The domestic terminal can handle up to 500 passengers at time and the International Terminal can handle 1,600 passengers at a time.
The International terminal ground operations are handled by Air India and Bhadra Ground Handling services Ltd. The terminal is fully air-conditioned with wi-fi facility.The international terminal features more spacious lounges, natural lighting with extensive use of glass roofing and better conveyance facilities for passengers. It also has 3 baggage carousels and elaborate immigration/customs facilities. Flemingo, India's first privately owned duty free operator is managing the duty free shop at the International terminal.
The domestic terminal has basic amenities including cafés, a book-seller, duty-free shopping, free local calls, phone-recharging points.
The newly built Terminal 3 has three additional jetways and parking bays to accommodate 8 aircraft. The terminal is built opposite to the current terminal across the runway and is closer to the city side.The terminal, constructed by the AAI and designed by the UK firm, Pascall+Watson architects, is expected to provide impetus to the development of the IT sector and the tourism industry in the southern districts of Kerala.
The international terminal covers an area of 36,000 m2 (390,000 sq ft), is able to handle the passengers of three Airbus A340s and one Boeing 747 aircraft simultaneously, or roughly 1500 passengers).[14] The annual handling capacity of the terminal will be 1.8 million.
The check-in area has a floor area of 960 m2 (10,300 sq ft) and the arrival area 600 m2 (6,500 sq ft). To enable the passengers to check in at any counter, a Common Users Terminal Equipment (CUTE) is installed. X-ray machines are attached to the side of the conveyor belts for faster clearance of baggage.
The entrance to the terminal is from the Chaka-Eenchakkal road. A bridge has been built across the Parvathy Puthanar canal to link the new terminal to the Kazhakuttam-Inchivila NH (National Highway) 47 bypass. The new terminal has a car park area that can accommodate about 600 cars.
There is a pre paid taxi service counter and foreign exchange(Thomas Cook India) counter on arrivals area.
Visa on Arrival
The Visa on Arrival facility (VOA) service is available at the airport and the facility allows citizens of 11 countries - Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia - to obtain tourist visas upon arrival in Trivandrum, Kerala.
Very nice post that explain in detail about the entire story of Trivandrum airport in India. Also the ground handling services India was almost done by the air India in most of the airport. Thanks for sharing such a informative post.
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