Coimbatore International Airport[5] (IATA: CJB, ICAO: VOCB) is an international airport and the primary airport serving the industrial cities of Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located in the neighbourhood of Peelamedu, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from Coimbatore's city centre. It is the 18th-busiest airport in India for passengers handled, 17th-busiest for total aircraft movement and 15th-busiest for cargo handled.[citation needed] The airport is served by five Indian and three foreign carriers providing direct connectivity to nine domestic and three international destinations.
History
Entrance of the airportFront view of the airportArrivals area of the airport
The then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, declared the government's intention to upgrade Coimbatore Airport to international status in a meeting with senior ministers on 6 June 2012,[6] and the Union Cabinet granted it the status of international airport on 2 October 2012.[7]
Infrastructure
Side view of the airport
The airport has one runway, which was extended to 9,760 ft (2,970 m) from 8,500 ft (2,600 m) in order to accommodate larger aircraft.[8] In 2008, the airport was expanded at a cost of ₹780 million (US$9.8 million) with 9 parking bays[9] and Instrument Landing System (ILS).[10] In 2010, new domestic and international divisions were added to the already existing common terminal.
The airport has a parking management system with a capacity to accommodate nearly 300 cars.[11] There are two hangars in the airport; one provides housing for the planes of Coimbatore Flying Club, the other provides shelter for private carriers.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has proposed to construct a new domestic departure terminal building with swankier interiors on the eastern side of the airport. The terminal would be constructed in an area of 10,000 square feet (930 m2) with a cost of around ₹ 125 crore.[12] Tender process for environmental clearance has started for the construction of the new terminal building and associated works, such as the construction of new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower cum Technical Block and Admin Block.[13]
The further proposed expansion of the airport includes extension of runway to 12,500 ft (3,800 m) to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and construction of a parallel taxiway to the runway to minimize runway occupancy time and turnaround time of aircraft.[14]
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Annual passenger traffic at CJB airport.
See Wikidata query.
Connectivity
The airport is located on Avinashi Road about 10 km (6.2 mi) from the central bus station. Bus services into the city are available from the bus stop located on Avinashi Road (around 1 km (0.62 mi) from the airport). Frequent intercity bus services are available from Gandhipuram central bus station and also from other auxiliary bus stations at Singanallur and Ukkadam. The airport is 11 km (6.8 mi) from the major railway station, Coimbatore Junction and the nearest rail stations are at Singanallur and Peelamedu. Cab services, call taxis and auto rickshaws provide 24 hours commuting services to the airport.
Incidents
On 13 December 1950, a Douglas DC-3 (registered VT-CFK) of Air India carrying 17 passengers and four crew from Bombay to Coimbatore, crashed into high ground near Kotagiri due to a navigational error, killing all on board.[19]
