Passenger Traffic Soars at Kannur International Airport in May, Boosting Connectivity to Kodagu

Abu Dhabi emerged as the top international destination, with 23,587 passengers flying to the UAE capital.( Photo:KIA)

Mattannur(Kerala): Kannur International Airport (KIAL), the closest airport to Kodagu(Coorg) district, witnessed a remarkable jump in passenger movement this May, handling 1,47,928 travellers — a 29% increase compared to the same month last year. Aircraft operations also saw a 36% surge, with 1,211 flights either arriving at or departing from the airport during the period.

According to a report by Mathrubhumi, Abu Dhabi emerged as the top international destination, with 23,587 passengers flying to the UAE capital. Significantly, 60% of all outbound international passengers from Kannur travelled to cities across the United Arab Emirates. With the launch of IndiGo’s Fujairah service, Kannur has become the only airport in South India offering direct flights to all five major UAE cities — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. The Fujairah route has seen impressive load factors, crossing 90% seat occupancy since its launch.

IndiGo is also set to introduce services to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, by mid-June, further expanding the airport’s international network.

On the domestic front, Mumbai topped the chart with 13,200 passengers in May. This rise is largely attributed to Air India Express beginning operations on the Mumbai-Kannur route in April, complementing existing IndiGo services. Air India Express has also launched flights to Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram during the same period.

Kannur airport, located approximately 90 kilometres from South Kodagu, serves as a convenient air travel hub for residents of the district. The well-connected road network between Virajpet, Gonikoppal and Kannur ensures that the airport is increasingly favoured by Kodagu residents and tourists alike, who previously had to rely on Bengaluru or Mangaluru for air connectivity.

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