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Here’s taking a look at all four international airports in this state that connect different locations of the southern state to multiple destinations worldwide.
All the airports in this state are international. (Representative Image)
Kerala holds a major distinctive milestone in India’s aviation sector, since it is the only state to have four international airports – situated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur. Altogether, these allow the southern state to enjoy global connectivity and link different regions of Kerala to multiple destinations across the globe.
Kerala, often dubbed as ‘God’s Own Country,’ is not just popular for its lush backwaters and cultural richness, but even the unmatched global connectivity – an achievement that highlights its thriving tourism industry as well as the large expatriate community spread worldwide.
Here’s taking a look at the four international airports in Kerala:
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
Established in 1932, this was the first airport in Kerala and currently serves as the gateway to the southern tip of India, including the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is also the second busiest airport in the state and spreads over an area of 650 acres. It is about 3.7 km due west from the city centre, 3 km from the Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple and 14 km from Kovalam beach.
The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport operates two terminals:
Terminal 1: Located near the Sankhumukham beach, this terminal manages all the domestic flight operations.
Terminal 2: Situated in Chackai, this terminal manages international flight operations.
The airport witnessed 4.9 million passengers pass through with a total of 33,316 aircraft movements during 2024-25.
Cochin International Airport
Located in Kochi, this is said to be the busiest airport in the state as well as the first fully solar-powered facility. The airport started its operation on May 25, 1999.
In 2024-25, it registered a substantial increase in footfall, with roughly 1.12 crore passengers using the facility. This was 6.33 per cent or 6.66 lakh, higher compared to the previous year.
Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), in its annual report for FY25, highlighted that close to 60 lakh domestic passengers and more than 52 lakh international passengers used the facility in 2024-25.
Calicut International Airport
This is one of the few airports in India with a tabletop runway. Being one of the busiest airport in the country, it has 2 terminals, with one each for domestic and international travellers.
The domestic terminal has an area of 5531.16 sq. meters and has nine check-in counters and two security kiosks. It can handle 250 inbound and 250 outbound passengers.
On the other hand, the international terminal covers an area of 18249.41 sq meters. This one has 23 check-in counters and 18 immigration counters.
Kannur International Airport
Inaugurated in 2018, this airport is the state’s latest addition to the aviation map and primarily caters to the northern districts of the state. It has been built on an area of around 2300 acres.
The airport has a single integrated terminal catering to both international and domestic operations, while its main building has three levels – basement, arrival and departure.
Delhi, India, India
February 18, 2026, 07:30 IST
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