<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Calicut International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para"><strong> Early years:</strong> In 1977, the airport was sanctioned due to long periods of struggle under the leadership of the late freedom fighter, K. P. Kesava Menon. In the 1990s, Gulf Malayalis played an important role in the development of the airport - they collected funds for the purpose when the Union Government claimed it did not have any. This led to the inception of the Malabar International Airport Development Society, which helped raise funds for the airport's development. Consequently, major developments of facilities, such as an extension of the runway from 6,000 feet to 9,000 feet to facilitate the operation of large aircraft, were carried out with loans from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Wide-body aircraft restrictions:</strong> Since 1 May 2015, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) imposed restrictions on the operation of wide-body aircraft such as Boeing 777 and 747 for a period of six months for runway recarpeting, which had been long overdue at this airport. As a result, Emirates, Saudia and two Air India Boeing 747 flight operations had to move temporarily to Cochin International Airport during this time. The airport authorities had expressed doubt about getting permission to operate wide-bodied aircraft from the airport, even after the completion of the recarpeting, for the runway in the airport is not large enough for the operation of jumbo aircraft. AAI had earlier instructed that all airports using widebody aircraft must have 240 m of Runway End Safety Area (RESA) in each direction, whereas that of Calicut Airport must have 90 m.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Reinstatement of wide-body aircraft operations:</strong> As advocated by various Malayali associations like KMCC, MCC and MDF and others, Gulf Malayalis, political parties, Kerala State Government and MPs from Malabar region, on 9 August 2018, DGCA gave approval for resuming wide-body aircraft (Code E category) operations from Calicut International Airport. In the beginning, Saudia has been given permission to start nonstop flights to Jeddah and Riyadh using Boeing 777-200LR and Airbus A330-300. After three and a half years, the wide-body aircraft (Airbus 330-300) of Saudi Arabian Airlines from Jeddah landed at Calicut International Airport at 11:04 (IST) on 5 December 2018.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History Calicut International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/cali/26.webp" alt="History Calicut International Airport"></p>
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<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pt-1 pb-2">Transport Calicut International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">Kozhikode Calicut International Airport provides the following transport options to the city centre:</p>
<ul class="blog-ul">
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Bus:</strong> Public transportation is available at Kozhikode Airport.</li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Taxi:</strong> Transfer to Calicut city centre within 40 minutes by taxi.</li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Train:</strong> There is no direct rail link between Kozhikode Airport and the city centre.</li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Rickshaw:</strong> Rickshaw stands for a cool way to the city centre.</li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Car Rental: </strong>Rent a car at Kozhikode Calicut International Airport.</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="Transport Calicut International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/cali/27.webp" alt="Transport Calicut International Airport"></p>
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