Agatti Airport

The airstrip was constructed during 1987−88 for operation of Dornier 228 type of aircraft and was inaugurated on 16 April 1988. Initially, the terminal was housed in a small temporary structure. Construction of the terminal building, Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and related structures commenced in 2006. However, the construction of the terminal building was stopped midway due to the proposed extension of runway.{{cite web |title=Environment Impact Assessment Report |url=http://lakshadweep.nic.in/Snt_EIA_2.htm |publisher=Union Territory of Lakshwadeep Official Website |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614123100/http://lakshadweep.nic.in/Snt_EIA_2.htm |archive-date=14 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} After the works completed, Air India Regional began services with ATR-42 aircraft on 24 September 2010 connecting Agatti with Kochi.{{cite web |title= How to reach Lakshwadeep |url= http://lakshadweep.nic.in/howtoreach.html |publisher= Official Website of Union Territory of Lakshwadeep |access-date= 29 December 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141231102317/http://lakshadweep.nic.in/howtoreach.html |archive-date= 31 December 2014 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }} The resurfacing of the runway was completed in November 2010. The airline was renamed later as Alliance Air, which now operates its ATR-72 aircraft from the airport to Bengaluru and Kochi.{{Cn|date=May 2023}}

Agatti airport is spread over {{convert|18.56|ha}}. It has one asphalt runway, oriented 04/22, 1204 metres long and 30 metres wide, while its terminal building can handle 50 passengers during peak hours. Navigational aids include a DME and NDB. It is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).[http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/agatti_airpo_gi.jsp Agatti Aerodrome] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830060556/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/agatti_airpo_gi.jsp |date=30 August 2017 }} at Airports Authority of India

In 2013, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) received environmental clearance to extend the runway by constructing a 1,500-feet-long bridge on stilts over the sea. The extension is to be built at a cost of Rs 3 billion and will allow aircraft like the ATR-72 to be operated without any payload restrictions.

AAI originally planned to construct a bridge between Agatti and the neighbouring uninhabited Kalpati Island to make the runway long enough to handle an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.{{cite web|title=Environmental Clearance for extension of runway at Agatti |url=http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Form-1A/Minutes/2%20_115th%20EAC%20Minutes.pdf |access-date=12 March 2013}} However, this plan was rejected on environmental grounds as the bridge would have gone through a turtle colony and Kalpati island would need to be levelled to accommodate the extended runway.{{cite news |title=Bridge on sea to extend Lakshadweep airport runway |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bridge-on-sea-to-extend-Lakshadweep-airport-runway/articleshow/18358361.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210031019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-06/india/36949117_1_runway-green-nod-agatti|url-status=live|archive-date=10 February 2013|work=The Times of India |access-date=12 March 2013}}

As per the revised master plan, the following works will be undertaken:

• The existing runway will be extended by 336 metres in the south-west direction over the lagoon towards Kalpati Island without interconnecting the two islands.
• Construction of new Terminal building, ATC tower cum Technical block & Fire Station in the north-west direction by constructing a platform supported by R.C.C pillars on the lagoon.
• A fully air-conditioned Terminal building covering 2250 square metres to cater for 150 passengers at a time (75 arriving and 75 departing).
• The existing Control Tower cum fire station and existing Terminal building that falls inside of the proposed basic strip will be demolished.
• A new 118×62-metre apron suitable for parking two ATR-72 aircraft with power-in and power-out configuration will be constructed on a platform supported by RCC pillars in the lagoon.
• Runway End Safety Area (RESA) measuring 60×90 metres and a Blast Pad/Overrun area measuring 60×30 metres.
• 73-metre long taxiway from the Runway to the Apron.
• Parking area for 75 cars about {{convert|2000|m2}}.
• Proposed DVOR and NDB navigational aids will be placed on Kalpati island.

On 18 July 2024, the Government of India had cleared the proposal of the expansion of the airport along with the construction of new airport in Minicoy. This will make the airport a tri-service military base with a civilian air enclave. The airbase will be capable of operating fighter jets, long-range UAVs and military transport aircraft. The project is led by the Indian Air Force and will be used by all the branches of the Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard.{{Cite news |date=18 July 2024 |title=Amid rising Chinese activities, India clears major plans to build two military airfields in Lakshadweep |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/amid-rising-chinese-activities-india-clears-major-plans-to-build-two-military-airfields-in-lakshadweep/articleshow/111843730.cms?from=mdr |access-date=19 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}{{Cite news |title=New defence airfield at Minicoy gets nod as govt expands Lakshadweep military presence |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/new-defence-airfield-at-minicoy-gets-nod-as-govt-expands-lakshadweep-military-presence/articleshow/111845497.cms |access-date=19 July 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

{{Airport destination list

|Alliance Air| Bengaluru, Kochi

|Fly91| Goa–Mopa{{cite web|title=Flight Schedule|url=https://fly91.in/resources/flight-schedule.pdf|website=Fly91|access-date=8 April 2024}}

|IndiGo| Bengaluru,{{cite news|title=IndiGo announces direct flight from Bengaluru to Lakshadweep from March 31|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/indigo-announces-direct-flight-from-bengaluru-to-lakshadweep-from-march-31-421954-2024-03-18|work=Business Today|date=18 March 2024|access-date=19 March 2024|language=en}} Kochi, Kozhikode{{cite web|title=Flight Schedule|url=https://www.goindigo.in/bookings/flight-select.html|website=IndiGo|access-date=8 April 2024}}

}}

== Statistics ==

{{Bar chart

| title = FY Annual Passengers

| label_type = Year

| data_type = Passengers

| bar_width = 50

| width_units = em

| data_max = 200000

| label1 = 2023–24

| data1 = 47,266

| label2 = 2024–25

| data2 = 117,409

}}

• List of airports in India

{{Portal|Aviation|India}}

{{commons-inline}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170830060556/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/agatti_airpo_gi.jsp Agatti Airport] at the Airports Authority of India

{{Airports in India}}

Category:Airports in Lakshadweep

Category:Airports established in 1988

Category:1988 establishments in Lakshadweep

Category:20th-century architecture in India