Kannur: The Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) authority has decided to speed up the works to extend the runway to 4,000 metres targeting European services in future.
At present the length of the runway is 3,050 metres and works are on progress to extend it to 4,000 metres. KIAL will reportedly, acquire 245 acres of land for this purpose.
A general meeting of KIAL has decided to complete the runway development as soon as possible.
Huge aircraft is necessary to extend services to Europe and other foreign countries. Hence a runway of 4,000 metres should be constructed to enable the operation of such flights at Kannur airport.
At present, the airport has facilities for the landing of big aircraft like Boeing-777. It can accomodate 20 aircrafts at a time.
However, KIAL authority plans to make the airport the largest international airport in Kerala with the development of the runway to 4,000 metres.
The runway, reportedly, will be developed within one and half years.
KIAL has acquired 2,300 acres for the airport. While 640 acres have been purchased under the share of the government, rest of the land is not handed over to KIAL yet.
The number of airline companies which operate services from KIAL will be confirmed at the high level meeting on October 9.
Apart from Indian companies, 11 foreign airline companies have expressed interest to operate services from there.
While Air India Express, Indigo and Go Air will operate international services, Air India, Jet and Spice Jet are expected to operate domestic services.
The airport was opened to the public on Friday ahead of its inauguration on December 9. People can visit the airport from 10 am to 4 pm till October 12.