The Indian state of Tamil Nadu has four international, and six domestic or private airports. Chennai International Airport, which is the fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic in India, is a major international airport and the main gateway to the state. Other international airports in the state include Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, and Madurai. Domestic flights are operational to certain airports like Thoothukudi and Salem while flights are planned to be introduced to more domestic airports by the UDAN scheme of Government of India.
The Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force operates three air bases in the stateSulur, Tambaram and Thanjavur. The Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy operates airbases at Uchipuli and Chennai. The Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy operates an airbase at Arakkonam. The Indian Coast Guard operates an air station in Chennai.
The aviation history of the state began in 1910, when Giacomo D'Angelis built the first powered flight in Asia and tested it in Island Grounds. In 1915, Tata Air Mail started an airmail service between Karachi and Madras, marking the beginning of civil aviation in India. On 15 October 1932, J. R. D. Tata flew a Puss Moth aircraft carrying air mail from Karachi to Bombay's Juhu Airstrip and the flight was continued to Madras piloted by aviator Nevill Vintcent marking the first scheduled commercial flight.
Civilian airports +Civilian airportsAirportLocationIATA CodeICAO CodeTypeOperationalOwned/operated byChennai International AirportChennaiMAAVOMMInternationalYesAirports Authority of IndiaCoimbatore International AirportCoimbatoreCJBVOCBInternationalYesHosur AerodromeHosurVO95State/PrivateLimitedTaneja AerospaceMadurai International AirportMaduraiIXMVOMDInternationalYesAirports Authority of IndiaNeyveli AirportNeyveliNVYVONYState/PrivateNoNeyveli Lignite CorporationSalem AirportSalemSXVVOSMDomesticYesAirports Authority of IndiaThanjavur AirportThanjavurTJVVOTJDomesticNoAirports Authority of India and Ministry of DefenceThoothukudi AirportThoothukudiTCRVOTKDomesticYesAirports Authority of IndiaTiruchirappalli International AirportTiruchirappalliTRZVOTRInternationalYesVellore AirportVelloreVOVRDomesticNo
Military airbases +Military airbasesAirbaseLocationIATA CodeICAO CodeOwned/operated by Coast Guard Air Station Chennai MAA VOMM Indian Coast Guard INS Parundu Uchipuli VORMIndian Navy INS Rajali Arakkonam VOAR Naval Air Enclave Chennai MAA VOMM Sulur Air Force Station Coimbatore VOSXIndian Air Force Tambaram Air Force Station Chennai VOTX Thanjavur Air Force Station Thanjavur TJV VOTJ
Defunct +Defunct airportsAirportLocation Chettinad Airport Karaikudi Cholavaram Airstrip Chennai Kayathar Airport Kayathar Ulundurpettai Airport UlundurpettaiKovilpatti AirstripKovilpatti
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