Karaikal Airport

Karaikal Airport is a proposed airport construction project to be located in India’s Puducherry region. The project is being overseen by Super Airport Infrastructure India Pvt Ltd (SAIIPL). The airport will feature a 1000m runway and a terminal with capacity for 250 passengers per hour. SAIIPL plans to expand the runway to 2600m following the completion of first phase works. No progress has been made on the development since Aug-2019. 

Aug-2019. Puducherry's Cabinet approved a proposal to appoint Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) to participate in the Karaikal Airport development project. CIAL is expected to undertake a feasibility survey of the airport development site and submit a report the government within the next three to four months.

Jan-2018. Karaikal Airport Private Limited (KAPL) is unlikely to complete construction of Karaikal Airport by Jun-2018 as planned due to issues with land acquisition.

Aug-2017. Karaikal Chamber of Commerce urged India's Puducherry Government to build a greenfield airport in the region. The proposed greenfield project would be India's first fully funded with private capital, with construction work of the project developed by Karaikal Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Super Airport Infrastructure Private Limited. The greenfield project is expected to be complete in Jun-2018. The planned 1800m runway has been reduced to 1250m due to issues with land acquisition.

Jul-2017. Karaikal Airport, India’s first private greenfield airport, is expected to be completed in Jun-2018. The airport’s developers have secured 350 acres of the required 526 acres for the project.

Nov-2016. India's Super Airport Infrastructure (India) Private Limited (SAIIPL) chairman J V Chowdhary advised Karaikal Airport will have a 1000m runway upon completion of phase one construction to accommodate small aircraft operations. He said, "Initially, we had planned to have a 1.8km runway in the first phase. But, that would have required more time and resources for completion. We have scaled down the first phase to 1km with a view to complete the works at the earliest". SAIIPL hopes to extend runway length to 2.6km in the final phase of expansion to accomodate regional jets and Boeing 737 aircraft types. 350 acres of land has been acquired for the airport project which SAIIPL has proposed set up on 526 acres of land. 

Jun-2016. India’s Government will provide financial support for new airport development in Karaikal after the Puducherry Territorial Government identifies land for the project, according to Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy.

Jul-2015. India's Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr Mahesh Sharma confirmed the government granted in principle approval for the development of 13 new airports at cities including Kairakal.

May-2015. Construction on the airport is being delayed due to a shortage of funds. The company reportedly still plans to continue with the project.

2013. Super Airport Infrastructure India Pvt Ltd (SAIIPL) said construction work on India’s first fully private green field airport in Karaikal in Puducherry is scheduled to commence in May-2013. The company has obtained all necessary clearances from regulatory agencies, including permission from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and no-objection certificate from the Puducherry Government. SAIIPL has proposed to establish the airport on around 526 acres and has already acquired 300 acres for the first phase of the project, which involves construction of a 1800m runway and a terminal, with capacity for 250 passengers per hour. The runway will be expanded to 3000m in the future. SAIIPL expects that the airport would initially attract about 550 inbound and outbound passengers daily.

2012. Indian Minister of State for Civil Aviation K C Venugopal reported the Indian government has granted "in-principle" approval for a greenfield airport at Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Approval was granted for Karaikal Airport Private Limited in 2011. The company has since taken up necessary steps for development of the airport. The timeline for construction of airport projects “depends upon many factors like land acquisition, mandatory clearances and financial closure” said Mr Venugopal.