There are 4 international airports in Kerala presently, and one is in the works! Kerala airports are equipped with all modern facilities to promote smooth commute, save time, and offer travelers luxury and comfort. Its connectivity to major global airports also makes it easy for people from around the world to explore Kerala effortlessly. Kerala serves several premium airlines like Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Scoot, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Saudia, SilkAir, Sri Lankan Airlines, and more. Domestic airlines like Air India, Spicejet, Vistara, and Indigo also keep Kerala connected to major cities around India.
The airports of Kerala have helped boost Kerala Tourism manifold over the past couple of decades! In addition to aiding several expatriates, Kerala airports have always met the needs of modern travelers courtesy of their modern infrastructure and amenities that are equivalent to international standards.
One can fly to Kerala from anywhere in the world thanks to all these Kerala international airports. It’s the perfect way for tourists to explore God’s Own Country with ease and comfort. To help make your journey smooth and fun, we have put together a list of the airports in Kerala for you to choose from.
How many airports are there in Kerala?
Airports and air travel are the best means to get to Kerala from anywhere in the world. Kerala has four international airports including
- Kochi International Airport (COK),
- Kannur International Airport (CNN),
- Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), and
- Kozhikode Calicut International Airport (CCJ)
and each of these is well-connected to major airports in the world.
Kerala is the only state in India that has four international airports. Each of these international airports in Kerala is deliberately located in major cities and tourist areas of Kerala so that they can provide travelers seamless connectivity to different parts of Kerala as well as major Indian cities.
List Of Airports In Kerala
The international airports of Kerala are well equipped with comfortable lounges, currency exchange, ATMs, and a prepaid taxi counter. They’re known to have a well-experienced staff that is already ready to help.
While Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, constructed in 1932 and declared international in 1991, was the first airport to come up in Kerala, Cochin International Airport is the largest, busiest, and best-served of all of Kerala’s international airports. It has become the state’s principal international airport, making Kochi the ideal city for arrival and departure to visit popular tourist destinations in Kerala.
These airports in Kerala also have amazing decor and ambiance displaying the state’s cultural traditions and heritage. Statues of caparisoned elephants, Kathakali forms, and mural paintings depicting Kerala’s art and temple architecture adorn the halls and lounges of these airports in the most beautiful fashion!
1. Cochin International Airport (COK)
Cochin International Airport is the best airport to fly into Kerala. It is the first airport in India to be developed under a private-public partnership. It was funded by just under 10,000 non-resident Indians from over 30 countries. It’s Kerala’s most extensive, largest, and busiest airport with three passenger terminals.
It’s also the world’s first fully solar-powered airport and has a car park that is fully covered with solar panels. Cochin International Airport has surplus electricity which is given back to the national grid in India! Located 45 km northeast of the city center, this Kerala airport is the seventh busiest airport in India.
COK services all major domestic metropolises such as Trivandrum and Kozhikode in Kerala, and other significant Indian destinations like Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Vizag. Besides being a major airport in Kerala, it also offers a wide range of services that always delight guests, including the shopping opportunities it offers.
This international airport in Kerala is its biggest airport with three terminals serving both domestic and international flights. It’s well connected to major international destinations like Jeddah, Dammam, Abu Dhabi Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Colombo, Doha, Muscat, and Riyadh among others.
Cochin Airport is closest to major tourist destinations like Munnar, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Marari, and Fort Kochi in Kerala. Despite being one of the busiest international airports in Kerala serving tonnes of international and domestic travelers at once, Cochin Airport manages to offer guests adequate opportunities to relax and engage in activities like fine dining and shopping in its spacious complex.
Facilities available at Cochin International Airport: VIP lounges with recliners and literary entertainment, lost and found counter, 24X7 medical unit, cloakroom, free porterage service for the needy, free baggage trolleys, Tourist Information Counter, roofed car park, world-class restaurants, duty-free shopping zone with premium brands
Best destinations near Cochin International Airport:
| Destination | Distance from airport | Travel time | Prepaid taxi fare |
| Munnar | 105 km | 3.5 hours | INR 2,500/- |
| Alleppey | 83 km | 2.2 hours | INR 2,000/- |
| Kumarakom | 73 km | 2.1 hours | INR 2,000/- |
| Thekkady | 162 km | 2.5 hours | INR 2,800/- |
| Marari | 72 km | 2 hours | INR 1,800/- |
| Fort Kochi | 37 km | 1.2 hours | INR 1,000/- |
2. Thiruvananthapuram International Aiport (TRV)
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport was the first-ever airport in Kerala and started operations in 1932. It also happens to be the fifth international airport in India. Located 7 km away from the city, this Kerala international airport is one of the busiest airports in India.
Declared as an international airport in 1991, Thiruvananthapuram Airport services the city of Trivandrum and its surroundings. It’s Kerala’s second busiest airport with one international and one domestic terminal and it serves an essential role in military and Coast Guard operations of India.
In the 1920s, Kollam airport was the only civil aerodrome in the broader area, but with the appearance of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, this historic airfield was forced to close its doors. Trivandrum airport is now one of the best airports in Kerala which has a passenger managing capacity of around 1.95 million and which also functions as a pilot training center!
Major domestic destinations connected to TRV are Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Bangalore, making it an ideal base from which to explore both Kerala and the rest of India.
Internationally, TRV services mostly the Middle East, with regular connections to Sharjah, Muscat, Bahrain, Oman, Riyadh, and Dubai, as well as countries such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Male, and Colombo.
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is the closest to tourist destinations in Kerala like Kovalam, Poovar, Varkala, and Kanyakumari. This airport offers easy access to Southern Kerala including places like Varkala and Kovalam among other cities, towns, and even remote areas in the state.
Facilities available at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport: Medical units at both terminals, lost and found, three 24X7 lounges at the international terminal, ATMs and currency exchange units, smoking zone, duty-free shops with premium brands, child care room, cloakroom, free baggage trolleys, top-notch restaurants
Best destinations near Thiruvananthapuram International Airport:
| Destination | Distance from airport | Travel time | Prepaid taxi fare |
| Kovalam | 14 km | 30 minutes | INR 600/- |
| Poovar | 30 km | 1 hour | INR 800/- |
| Varkala | 43 km | 1.5 hours | INR 2,100/- |
| Kanyakumari | 102 km | 3 hours | INR 2,500/- |
| Kollam | 68 km | 2 hours | INR 2,300/- |
| Alleppey | 150 km | 4 hours | INR 4,200/- |
3. Kannur International Airport (CNN)
Opened in 2018, Kannur Airport is the biggest one in Southern India. It services the northern districts in Kerala with an integrated domestic and international terminal. This is the second airport in Kerala under the private-public partnership.
CNN has connections to all major domestic metropolises, including Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, and Kozhikode. With high-tech infrastructure, this is one of the top airports in Kerala that ensures good connectivity to the country and the world.
It’s located 25 km from the main town of Kannur and is one of the leading Kerala airports that was awarded a LEED Gold Certificate for Energy and Environment Conservation in 2018. In addition, Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology has also proposed setting up an aviation academy on two acres of the airport’s land to run student courses in aeronautics along with providing flight training.
It also services major international destinations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Jeddah, Dammam, Muscat, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Colombo, and Riyadh among others.
Kannur International Airport (CNN) is closest to tourist destinations in Kerala like Wayanad, Kannur, and Bekal.
Facilities available at Kannur International Airport: Viewer’s Gallery, two premium lounges, 24X7 medical units, lost and found, smoking zone, duty-free shopping, cloakroom, free baggage trolleys, restaurants
Best destinations near Kannur International Airport:
| Destination | Distance from airport | Travel time | Prepaid taxi fare |
| Kannur | 27 km | 55 minutes | INR 500/- |
| Bekal | 54 km | 2.8 hours | INR 2,100/- |
| Wayanad | 104 km | 3.2 hours | INR 3,500/- |
| Mysore | 158 km | 4 hours | INR 4,200/- |
4. Kozhikode Calicut International Airport (CCJ)
Operational since 1988, Kozhikode International Airport serves the cities of Kozhikode and Malappuram and is the third busiest airport in Kerala. This is among the leading international airports in India with hi-tech facilities.
Located 28 km from Kozhikode city center, this international airport is the first airport in the country to have a special runaway lead-in-lighting system to enhance visibility during cloudy weather and night hours.
With one domestic and one international terminal, it services all significant metropolises in India and prominent international destinations like Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Salalah, Muscat, Ras al-Khaimah, and Kuwait. Amongst all airports in Kerala, Kozhikode Calicut International Airport is one of three Indian airports to have a tabletop runway, which was built on hilly terrain.
This feature also makes it one of the most beautiful airports of Kerala where visitors are greeted with surreal bird’s-eye views of Kerala’s lush hills covered in wisps of clouds before every smooth landing!
Kozhikode Calicut International Airport (CNN) is closest to tourist destinations in Kerala like Kozhikode, Palakkad, and Malappuram, and serves as the gateway to the tranquil Silent Valley National Park.
Facilities available at Kozhikode Calicut International Airport: Low-floor AC shuttle services, restaurants and cafes, bookstalls, duty-free shops, banking services, baggage wrapping, Flight Insurance Counters, newspaper/magazine vending machines, child care rooms
Best destinations near Kozhikode Calicut International Airport:
| Destination | Distance from airport | Travel time | Prepaid taxi fare |
| Kozhikode | 29 km | 1 hour | INR 800/- |
| Palakkad | 100 km | 3 hours | INR 2,100/- |
| Nelliyampathi | 149 km | 4.8 hours | INR 4,200/- |
| Wayanad | 99 km | 3.5 hours | INR 3,500/- |
Upcoming airports in Kerala
The Civil Aviation Ministry recently granted site clearance for the building of the Kottayam International Airport, also to be called the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport, bringing the total number of airports in Kerala to five. The proposed airport will be located in Manimala and Erumely South approximately 86 km away from Kochi and will be established on an area of about 2,570 acres of land.
The Kottayam International Airport in Kerala will be a boon for pilgrims visiting Sabarimala! It will make traveling to places like Sabarimala, Kottayam, Idukki, Alleppey, and Pathanamthitta all the more easy and convenient.
The establishment of this airport will facilitate better connectivity among the remaining regions of Kerala that were still far/inaccessible from the existing airports in Kerala. The establishment of the 5th international airport in Kerala will finally ensure complete connectivity and accessibility among all its cities, towns, and villages, even the remote ones!
Tips for visitors using the airports in Kerala
- Get a local sim card upon arrival at the airport itself to avoid the hassle of looking for shops and data services in the city.
- If you have not booked a Kerala tour package before arriving, or do not have confirmed pickup, opt for the pre-paid taxis available in all these airports in Kerala. Cab services like Uber or Ola could be expensive and unreliable here.
- There is no GST redemption counter in any airport in Kerala. Make arrangements accordingly.
- All Kerala airports have spacious lounges that offer visitors private spaces to rest, relax, and freshen up, and they all accept Mastercard, Visa, and Rupay cards.
- You can fly directly to Kerala from most cities in the world. Also, there are multiple flights to Dubai and Singapore from these airports.
- Each airport has a dedicated Information Center to help you with every aspect from assistance with luggage to information about stay options in the city.
- Every airport in Kerala has a designated team to provide necessary assistance to travelers with special needs. There are also facilities to aid elderly/disabled travelers and those traveling with children.
How to get a SIM card on arrival in the airports in Kerala?
You need to get a local SIM to get a local number as it will reduce your data costs and make it easier to contact local drivers and hotels. In case you want to opt for a SIM on arrival, you have to produce your passport & Visa at the counter. SIM cards can be purchased on the spot. SIM cards obtained from airports in Kerala are activated within 3-4 hours and you may need to restart the phone after inserting them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Airports In Kerala
Q. How many airports are there in Kerala?
Kerala has four international airports and is well-connected to all major airports in India and many prominent cities in the world. These include the Cochin International Airport (COK), Kannur International Airport (CNN), Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), and Kozhikode Calicut International Airport (CCJ). And now a fifth airport, the Kottayam International Airport, is underway.
Q. Which is the biggest airport in Kerala?
Located 45 km northeast of the city center, Cochin International Airport is the biggest airport in Kerala with a passenger handling capacity of more than 10.2 million every year.
Q. How can I go to Kerala by flight?
Kerala is easily accessible by air. The state houses four airports that run both national and international flights making flying to Kerala easy and convenient.
Q. Which was the first airport in Kerala?
Trivandrum International Airport was the first airport in Kerala located in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. The airport was established in 1932 and started operating as an international airport in January 1991.
