Jodhpur Airport


Jodhpur Airport is a civil enclave airport in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. It is operated by the Airports Authority of India and shares its airside with the Jodhpur Air Base of the Indian Air Force. The Government of Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Air Force for the expansion of the civil enclave in March 2017, wherein 37 acres of IAF land would be transferred to AAI. It is 44th busiest airport in India, handling more than half a million passengers in the year 2018 - 2019.

History

The Jodhpur Flying Club was set up by Maharaja Umaid Singh in the 1920s at a small airfield near his Chittar Palace in Jodhpur. Through the next 3 decades, the airfield grew in stature, being used as an airfield for the Royal Air Force during World War II. The airfield was later upgraded in 1950 after the formation of the Royal Indian Air Force. Jodhpur was home to the IAF's Air Force Flying College until the 1965 war.

Structure

Jodhpur airport's 12-acre civil enclave contains a terminal building measuring a built-up area of 5690 m2, that is capable of handling 430 passengers per hour. The terminal has 7 check-in counters and 3 boarding gates.
The adjoining concrete apron measures 140 by 100 metres and has 3 parking bays that can cater to two A320 and an ATR aircraft simultaneously.
Jodhpur's runway is oriented 05/23, is 2743 metres long and 45 metres wide. The airfield is equipped with night landing facilities and an Instrument Landing System as well as navigational facilities like DVOR/DME and an NDB.

Jodhpur Air Force Base

Squadrons of HAL Dhruv, Mikoyan MiG-27, Mil Mi-17 and Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft are operated by the IAF from this airfield. It was active during the Kargil War of 1999. French-made Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft are expected to operate from Jodhpur air base. There is also a battalion of the Garud Commando Force here.

Airlines and destinations