The first trial flight will land at Kannur International Airport, a flagship project of Congress-led UDF government, on February 29, a senior official said today.
Making a statement in this regard in the state Assembly under section 300 of Assembly rules, State Excise and in-charge of Airports, K Babu said the Airport was expected to become commercially operational in September.
Kannur Airport will be the fourth international airport in the state, the others being in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.
Kannur Airport, second to be built under PPP route after Nedumbassery International Airport at Kochi, has received permission from Director General of Civil Aviation to conduct trial run using Code-B- Aircraft, Babu said, adding "aircraft has also been received from Defence Ministry.
"Estimated cost of the project is Rs 1892 crore. Construction of 2400 metre runway has been completed."
Expansion of the Airport was proposed in two stages. Facilities would be made to link countries like UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Singapore in the first phase itself, he said.
State government has 35 per cent stake in the Kannur International Airport Ltd Company that will run the Airport.
Public Sector Undertakings has 25 per cent shares, Private participation 30 per cent and KIAL 10 per cent.
Construction work of the airport was inaugurated by then Defence Minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony on February 2, 2014.
"UDF government has fulfilled another promise it made to people," Babu said.
