<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Tiruchirappalli International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Pre-World War II: </strong>The first known history of commercial flight landing at the airport dates back to 23 December 1936 when TATA Sons, Ltd. operated an Indo-Cylone special airmail service between Madras and Colombo via Trichinopoly carrying Christmas mails connecting their regular airmail service between Karachi and Madras via Bhuj, Ahmedabad, Bombay, Hyderabad. The Special "Goodwill Flight" was operated by Miles M4A Merlin aircraft registered as VT-AHC and piloted by H. D. Barucha, the return flight to Madras via Trichinopoly occurred the next day. This flight was a precursor for the extension of their regular Karachi-Madras Airmail service until Colombo via Trichinopoly, which began operations on 28 February 1938. There are evidences of Weekly Air Mail service in operation on the Bombay-Goa-Cannore-Trivandrum-Tirchinopoly route during early 1937 which later made connection to the Karachi-Colombo Air Mail service at Trichinopoly.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>World War II: </strong>During World War II, RAF Station Kajamalai was established at the airfield and used by the British Royal Air Force. The base started operating during May 1942 and until the beginning of 1944 the base was primarily used for repair and maintenance of warplanes which on landing were taken to a workshop at Ponmalai 2 km away. The airfield gained prominence during 1944 when planes were brought for calibration and other training activities also ferry flights started using the airfield. During second half of 1944, three squadrons were operating out of the airfield. At the end of war the airfield served as Staging Post and Personnel Transit Centre due to its prominent location.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Post World War II: </strong>When Ceylon government asked permission to operate flights between Colombo and Trichinopoly in 1947, Indian government improved the aerodrome for full functioning and allowed flight operations to Colombo in 1948. On 3 December 1948, Air Ceylon inaugurated a regular weekly commercial service between Colombo and Karachi, using a Dakota flight via Tiruchirappalli and Bombay. During 1950, Air Ceylon operated dedicated daily flights from Colombo to Tiruchirappalli via Jaffna. During 1952, Air India operated daily flights on Bombay-Madras-Tiruchirappalli-Colombo route, which was later transferred to Indian airlines operated on Madras-Tiruchirappalli-Colombo route.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History Tiruchirappalli International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/tiruchi/t.webp" alt="History Tiruchirappalli International Airport"></p>