Coimbatore Airport
Encyclopedia
Coimbatore Airport is a customs airport
located at Peelamedu
, Coimbatore
. It was previously known as Coimbatore Civil Aerodrome. It is about 17 km (10.6 mi) from the city center. It is located along Peelamedu and Neelambur, with passenger entry at Neelambur and cargo entry at Peelamedu. It is the eleventh largest airport in India in terms of total passenger movement and the second largest in Tamil Nadu
, after Chennai International Airport
operating Fokker F27
, Douglas DC-3
and Hawker Siddeley's Avro 748. For a considerable phase, the air services were restricted to the cities of Chennai and Mumbai. However, in the later years services to Cochin and Bangalore were also added. The airport in the 80s had a thorough transformation when it was closed down for runway expansion so as to enable modern days jets like Boeing 737
and Airbus A320
to operate. The year 1987 is a landmark in the history of this airport since on that year the project of runway expansion was completed and a new terminal started operation.
Nowadays, the airport is served by 10 airlines and 5 more are likely to initiate their operations in the coming years. In the meanwhile, two reputed international airlines Silkair
started operations to Coimbatore, linking Coimbatore with Singapore
and Air Arabia
.
The airport has one runway that is 9760 feet (2,974.8 m) in length extended from 8500 ft (2,590.8 m). The airport can now accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 747
and Airbus A330
because of this runway expansion. The runway is further slated to be extended to 12500 feet (3,810 m) to handle wide bodied aircraft in a efficient manner. An Instrument Landing System
(ILS) has also been installed. Although the cargo complex is one continuous structure, it was built incrementally, with the Domestic and International terminals being added in 2007 to the already existing terminal.
The airport has a parking management system will be in place with separate entrance for VIP/Government and other exempted class of vehicles, with a dedicated area for parking for 12 vehicles. The airport parking area has the capacity to park 282 cars.
Boeing 737, bound for New Delhi
with 130 passengers, almost struck the wing of a stationary Air Deccan
A320
aircraft. The aircraft was stopped on time and the accident averted.
Customs airport
A customs airport is an airport notified by the appropriate customs authority of the country as an airport which shall be airports for the unloading of imported goods and the loading of export goods or any class of such goods...
located at Peelamedu
Peelamedu
Peelamedu is a part of the city of Coimbatore. It lies on the Avinashi road, is the most important arterial road in Coimbatore, India. It starts near Anna Flyover, and ends at L&T bypass junction at Nillambur...
, Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
. It was previously known as Coimbatore Civil Aerodrome. It is about 17 km (10.6 mi) from the city center. It is located along Peelamedu and Neelambur, with passenger entry at Neelambur and cargo entry at Peelamedu. It is the eleventh largest airport in India in terms of total passenger movement and the second largest in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, after Chennai International Airport
Chennai International Airport
Chennai International Airport , formerly known as Madras International Airport is located in Tirusulam, south of Chennai , India...
History
The airport had its commencement in the 1940’s in the form of a civil aerodrome with just the IndianIndian (airline)
Indian , formerly Indian Airlines was a major Indian airline based in Delhi and focused primarily on domestic routes, along with several international services to neighbouring countries in Asia. It was state-owned, and was administered by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It was one of the two flag...
operating Fokker F27
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
, Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
and Hawker Siddeley's Avro 748. For a considerable phase, the air services were restricted to the cities of Chennai and Mumbai. However, in the later years services to Cochin and Bangalore were also added. The airport in the 80s had a thorough transformation when it was closed down for runway expansion so as to enable modern days jets like Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
and Airbus A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
to operate. The year 1987 is a landmark in the history of this airport since on that year the project of runway expansion was completed and a new terminal started operation.
Nowadays, the airport is served by 10 airlines and 5 more are likely to initiate their operations in the coming years. In the meanwhile, two reputed international airlines Silkair
SilkAir
SilkAir Private Limited is an airline based in Singapore. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and operates scheduled passenger services from Singapore to 31 cities in Southeast Asia, South Asia and China. It has its head office on the fifth storey of SIA Superhub 1...
started operations to Coimbatore, linking Coimbatore with Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Air Arabia
Air Arabia
Air Arabia is a low-cost airline with its head office in the Sharjah Freight Center, Sharjah International Airport, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates....
.
Infrastructure
The new passenger terminal complex at Neelambur is used for passenger operations. The passenger terminal complex consists of a domestic terminal and an International terminal, although the complex is one continuous structure. The first part to be built was the old terminal at Peelamedu followed by the new domestic terminal with three aero bridges at Neelambur. The old terminal at Peelamedu is used for handling cargo.The airport has one runway that is 9760 feet (2,974.8 m) in length extended from 8500 ft (2,590.8 m). The airport can now accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
and Airbus A330
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
because of this runway expansion. The runway is further slated to be extended to 12500 feet (3,810 m) to handle wide bodied aircraft in a efficient manner. An Instrument Landing System
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
(ILS) has also been installed. Although the cargo complex is one continuous structure, it was built incrementally, with the Domestic and International terminals being added in 2007 to the already existing terminal.
The airport has a parking management system will be in place with separate entrance for VIP/Government and other exempted class of vehicles, with a dedicated area for parking for 12 vehicles. The airport parking area has the capacity to park 282 cars.
Proposed Expansion
The further proposed expansion of the airport includes the construction of a parallel taxiway to the runway. This will minimize the runway occupancy time and turnaround of aircraft, as aircraft currently taxi on the runway. Two more parking bays will be added, raising the total number to eight. There are two hangers in the airport. While one of them provides housing for the planes of Coimbatore Flying Club, the others provides shelter for private carriers. The airport has only one terminal and the other is under construction. The airport is on the verge of expansion and projects are being chalked out in this direction. In addition, plans for modernizing the present terminal with all modern facilities are sought after.Transport links
The airport is located on the National Highway 47(Avinashi Road). Frequent bus services are available from the central bus stand in Gandhipuram and also from other auxiliary bus stations of Singanallur and Ukkadam. Cab services and auto rickshaws also provide commuting services from and to the airport.Airlines and destinations
Cargo
Incidents
On 17 November 2007, an accident at the parking bay of the airport was averted when the wing of a SpiceJetSpiceJet
SpiceJet is a low-cost airline headquartered in Gurgaon, India. It began service in May 2005 and by 2008, it was India's second-largest low-cost airline in terms of market share. SpiceJet was voted as the best low-cost airline in South Asia and Central Asia region by Skytrax in...
Boeing 737, bound for New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
with 130 passengers, almost struck the wing of a stationary Air Deccan
Air Deccan
Kingfisher Red, known formerly as Simplifly Deccan and prior to that as Air Deccan, is a low-cost brand run by Kingfisher Airlines. It is headquartered in Mumbai, India....
A320
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
aircraft. The aircraft was stopped on time and the accident averted.