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]
