Table of Content:
- Port Blair Airport Status
- Port Blair Airport
- Must Know Facts About Port Blair Airport
- Services At Portblair Airport
- New Terminal of Port Blair Airport
- Design & Sustainability of New Terminal of Port Blair Airport
Port Blair Airport Status
Port Blair Airport’s newly constructed terminal building, which was virtually inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on 18 July 2023, started its operations on August 21, 2023. The operations of the new terminal began with the arrival of an IndiGo flight, 6E-6213, from Chennai.
The new terminal building at Port Blair Airport covers an area of around 40,800 square meters, and it was constructed at a cost of around Rs 710 crore. A three-storied terminal at Port Blair Airport can handle 50 lakh passengers annually. It has 12 immigration counters, 28 check-in counters, 3 passenger boarding bridges, and 4 conveyor belts. It can park 10 aircraft.
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Port Blair Airport
Port Blair Airport name now is Veer Savarkar International Airport. Originally called Port Blair Airport, it was renamed Veer Savarkar International Airport to honour freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. It connects the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the Indian mainland. Port Blair Airport is one of the four airports in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Port Blair Airport connects Andaman with major Indian cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Cochin, and Bangalore.
Though there are no direct international flights from Port Blair International Airport, it serves as a layover location. The flights going to Southeast Asia stop at Port Blair Airport.
Portblair Airport is the nearest airport to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It is located 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) south of Port Blair. Being the main airport of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it functions under the jurisdiction of the Indian Navy, which manages its air traffic operations. Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages the Passenger Terminal Building and Apron.
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Must Know Facts About Port Blair Airport
Below you will find the key interesting facts about Andaman Port Blair Airport:
IXZ is the IATA code of Port Blair Airport.
Port Blair International Airport is operated by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and controlled by the Indian Navy.
Port Blair International Airport has a single runway of 3,290 metres in length.
Opened in 2005, it serves as the main airport of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Services At Portblair Airport
On your trip to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Portblair Airport offers the following services to travellers:
Tourist Counter
Restroom
Lost and found counter
Medical-aid
ATMs
Luggage services
Duty-Free shops
Snack shops
Immigration Counter
Tourism Information Counter
Passenger Help Desk
Assistance to differently-abled
Child care room
Wheelchair Accessibility
New Terminal of Port Blair Airport
New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) at Port Blair Airport aims to improve travel and communication in the territory, therefore, boosting tourism and promoting the socio-economic development of the locals. As the new terminal of Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair will bring more flights and tourists, creating job opportunities in the region.
An Apron at Andaman Nicobar Port Blair Airport is constructed at Rs 80 Crores. It is capable of handling two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 types of aircraft. Now the Andaman Port Blair Airport is suitable for parking 10 aircraft.
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Design & Sustainability of New Terminal of Port Blair Airport
The Port Blair new airport terminal building is the epitome of sustainability, as reflected in its design and features.
The nature-inspired architectural design of the new terminal at the Portblair Airport resembles a shell-shaped structure. The structure symbolizes the sea and islands.
The new terminal has a Double Insulated Roofing System, which aims to reduce heat gain.
Moreover, the new terminal building of Port Blair International Airport has skylights that aim to provide maximum natural light, therefore reducing the need for artificial light usage.
Other sustainable features of the new terminal building include a rainwater catchment, an on-site sewage treatment plant, and a 500 KW solar power plant.
Conclusion
Port Blair Airport serves as a gateway to the beautiful Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The operation of the newly constructed terminal will not only boost tourism in the region but will also improve the travel experience of tourists and locals alike, in addition to creating employment opportunities. Moreover, the design and structure of the new terminal of the Andaman Nicobar Port Blair Airport ensure minimal negative impact on the environment.