Kurnool Airport

In 2008, the Government of Andhra Pradesh invited for expressions of interest to develop eight minor airports in the state, including an airport at Kurnool. Each airport was expected to cost {{INRConvert|50|c|year=2008}}. The airports were to be built in {{Convert|500|-|600|acre|km2|abbr=on}} with a runway length of {{Convert|6000|ft|m}}. The construction of this airport was chosen, because Kurnool has a large paper mill producing 300 tonnes of paper every day.{{Cite news|last=Chowdhury|first=Anirban|date=19 January 2008|title=Andhra plans 8 small airports|work=Rediff India Abroad|url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jan/19ap.htm|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503025310/http://www.rediff.com:80/money/2008/jan/19ap.htm|archive-date=3 May 2008}}

In July 2009, the government scrapped the plans as no companies posted bids for the construction of the airport. The companies sought the construction to be infeasible due to low expectations of revenues. In October 2009, the government planned to invite fresh bids for 4 airports including Kurnool Airport, to be constructed in {{Convert|500|acre|km2|abbr=on}}. The government offered additional incentives including exemption from value-added taxes and waiver of lease rentals for the first seven years, once the airport is operational.{{Cite news|date=2 October 2009|title=Andhra to invite bids for 4 airports with new incentives|work=Mint|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/hLC4Cp6ZwP7ahEUnNrAolM/Andhra-to-invite-bids-for-4-airports-with-new-incentives.html|url-status=live|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404115855/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/hLC4Cp6ZwP7ahEUnNrAolM/Andhra-to-invite-bids-for-4-airports-with-new-incentives.html|archive-date=4 April 2021}}

Later in 2013, the Government of India identified Kurnool as one of the 50 locations for the development of low-cost airports, in order to improve connectivity to remote areas.{{cite news|last=Mukherjee|first=Sharmistha|date=5 July 2014|title=Centre to focus on low-cost airports along tourist circuits|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/centre-to-focus-on-low-cost-airports-along-tourist-circuits-114070300950_1.html|url-status=live|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007153750/https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/centre-to-focus-on-low-cost-airports-along-tourist-circuits-114070300950_1.html|archive-date=7 October 2019}}

The airport was originally planned to be constructed over {{Convert|639|acre|km2|abbr=on}}, of which {{Convert|456|acre|km2|abbr=on}} are in Pudicherla, {{Convert|115|acre|km2|abbr=on}} in Orvakal and {{Convert|67|acre|km2|abbr=on}} in Kannamadakala.{{cite news|date=4 February 2017|title=639 acres alienated for Greenfield Airport in Kurnool district|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/639-acres-alienated-for-Greenfield-airport-in-Kurnool-district/article17186556.ece|url-status=live|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211201058/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/639-acres-alienated-for-Greenfield-airport-in-Kurnool-district/article17186556.ece|archive-date=11 February 2020}} The Ministry of Civil Aviation gave the site clearance in February 2016.{{cite news|title=Centre gives nod for Nellore, Kurnool airport sites. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Centre-gives-nod-for-Nellore-Kurnool-airport-sites/articleshow/50827493.cms |work=The Times of India |date= 3 February 2016 |access-date= 6 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216013655/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Centre-gives-nod-for-Nellore-Kurnool-airport-sites/articleshow/50827493.cms |archive-date=16 February 2020 |url-status=live }} The state government approved the allocation of land in February 2017. The final construction was done in {{Convert|1008|acre|km2|abbr=on}} at a cost of {{INRConvert|153|c|year=2021}}.{{Cite news|last=Bandari|first=Pavan Kumar|date=25 March 2021|title=Andhra Pradesh: Orvakal Airport launched and named as Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy airport|work=The Hans India|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-orvakal-airport-launched-and-named-as-uyyalawada-narasimha-reddy-airport-678544|url-status=live|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325085612/https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-orvakal-airport-launched-and-named-as-uyyalawada-narasimha-reddy-airport-678544|archive-date=25 March 2021}}

The foundation stone was laid in June 2017 by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu. After trial runs were successfully conducted at the end of 2018,{{Cite news|date=31 December 2018|title=Trial run successful for Kurnool airport|work=Business Line|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/trial-run-successful-for-kurnool-airport/article25871842.ece|url-status=live|access-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227135916/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/trial-run-successful-for-kurnool-airport/article25871842.ece|archive-date=27 December 2019}} he inaugurated the airport on 8 January 2019.{{Cite news|last=Raghavan|first=Sandeep|date=16 January 2021|title=Andhra Pradesh: Kurnool airport gets aerodrome license from DGCA|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amaravati/andhra-pradesh-kurnool-airport-gets-aerodrome-license-from-dgca/articleshow/80302237.cms|url-status=live|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122005917/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amaravati/andhra-pradesh-kurnool-airport-gets-aerodrome-license-from-dgca/articleshow/80302237.cms|archive-date=22 January 2021}}{{Cite news|date=9 January 2019|title=Tourism boost for A.P. as Kurnool gets new airport|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tourism-boost-for-ap-as-kurnool-gets-new-airport/article25947882.ece|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001213/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tourism-boost-for-ap-as-kurnool-gets-new-airport/article25947882.ece|archive-date=8 November 2020}} At this time, the runway and terminal buildings were constructed, however, works related to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower was not completed.{{Cite news|date=21 March 2021|title=First flight to land at Orvakal airport on March 28|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/first-flight-to-land-at-orvakal-airport-on-march-28/article34120502.ece|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403184125/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/first-flight-to-land-at-orvakal-airport-on-march-28/article34120502.ece|archive-date=3 April 2021}} Two years later, on 15 January 2021, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India) (DGCA) granted the license to the airport for public use. Later, on 27 January, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) granted security clearance.

On 25 March 2021, the airport was re-inaugurated by the current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He also named the airport as Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Airport, commemorating the prominent freedom fighter, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, who originated from Kurnool district during the 19th century. The government also started discussion for a pilot training institute and an aircraft repair centre. On 28 March 2021, commercial operations began with a ceremonial IndiGo flight from Bangalore.

The airport has a passenger terminal, an ATC tower, a {{Convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} runway, with an apron for parking of four aircraft, among other ancillary facilities, like the fire station. It has been categorized as '3C' category airport, and is capable of handling turboprop aircraft like ATR-72 and Bombardier Q-400.{{cite news |title=CM Jagan to inaugurate Kurnool airport on Thursday |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2021/mar/25/cm-jagan-to-inaugurate-kurnool-airport-on-thursday-2281323.html |access-date=5 July 2021 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=25 March 2021}}

{{Airport destination list

|IndiGo|Bengaluru, Chennai, Vijayawada (begins 2 July 2025),http://thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/kurnool-vijayawada-flight-services-to-start-from-july-2/article69597630.ece Visakhapatnam

}}

== Statistics ==

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=KJB}}

The airport is located directly on National Highway 40 connecting Kurnool and Nandyal. There are no railway lines connecting the airport.

• Aviation in India
• List of Airports in India
• Vijayawada Airport

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{{Airports in India|state=collapsed}}

{{Kurnool district}}

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Category:Airports in Andhra Pradesh

Category:Transport in Kurnool district

Category:2019 establishments in Andhra Pradesh

Category:Airports established in 2019