Agatti Airport

Agatti Airport (IATA: AGX, ICAO: VOAT) is located on the southern end of Agatti Island, in the union territory of Lakshadweep in India. It is the sole airstrip in the archipelago, which lies off the west coast of mainland India.

Agatti Airport
Aerial view of the airport in 2007
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesLakshadweep, India
LocationAgatti Island
Elevation AMSL4 m / 14 ft
Coordinates10°49′41″N 72°10′44″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 1,291 4,235 Asphalt
Statistics (2019-20)
Passenger movements41,146 ( 7.3%)
Small Aircraft movements6,000 ( 5%)
Cargo tonnage300 ( 2.5%)

History

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 Terminal Building, Air Traffic Control Tower and related structures commenced in 2006. However, the construction of the Terminal Building was stopped midway due to the proposed extension of Runway & Basic strip.[1] Air India Regional began services with ATR-42 aircraft on 24 September 2010 connecting Agatti with Kochi.[2] The resurfacing of the runway was completed in November 2010.[1]

Structure

Agatti airport is spread over 18.56 hectares (45.9 acres). 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).[3]

Expansion plans

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.[4] 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 leveled to accommodate the extended runway.[5]

As per the revised master plan,[1] 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 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft).
  • Proposed DVOR and NDB navigational aids will be placed on Kalpati island.

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Alliance AirBangalore, Kochi

References
  1. "Environment Impact Assessment Report". Union Territory of Lakshwadeep Official Website. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  2. "How to reach Lakshwadeep". Official Website of Union Territory of Lakshwadeep. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. Agatti Aerodrome Archived 30 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine at Airports Authority of India
  4. "Environmental Clearance for extension of runway at Agatti" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  5. "Bridge on sea to extend Lakshadweep airport runway". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 March 2013.

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