Agra Airport

Last updated

Agra Airport
Agra Airport image.png
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/Public
Owner Indian Air Force
Operator Airports Authority of India
Serves Agra
LocationKheria, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Opened15 August 1947;76 years ago (1947-08-15) [1]
Elevation  AMSL 551 ft / 167.94 m
Coordinates 27°09′43″N77°58′15″E / 27.1618309°N 77.9707261°E / 27.1618309; 77.9707261
Website Agra Airport
Map
India Uttar Pradesh location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
AGR
Location of airport in Uttar Pradesh
India location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
AGR
AGR (India)
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
ftm
05/239,0002,743 Concrete
12/305,9641,818Concrete
Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024)
Passengers182,956 (Increase2.svg 39%)
Aircraft movements2,631 (Increase2.svg 38.3%)
Cargo tonnage47 (Increase2.svg 146.6%)
Source: AAI [2] [3] [4]

Agra Airport or Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Airport [5] [6] [7] ( IATA : AGR, ICAO : VIAG), also known as Kheria Airport, [1] is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The air force station is one of the largest airbases of the Indian Air Force. On 15 August 2017, the airbase celebrated its 70th anniversary.

Contents

History

The station was opened during World War II as Royal Air Forces Station Agra and had a number of flying units located there. It was closed after the war and transferred to the Royal Indian Air Force. The prefix Royal was later dropped and the station was later renamed. Air Force Station Agra was established on 15 August 1947 and placed under the command of Wing Commander Shivdev Singh, who was the incumbent commander of the No. 12 Sqn. Based on the then-present system of Commands, the airfield fell under the responsibility of the Western Air Command (WAC). The base remained under this Theatre Command for the next two decades. In July 1971 it was transferred to the Central Air Command (CAC), where it remains today.

During its sixty-year history with the IAF, it has seen the likes of C-47 Dakotas, C-119 Packets, HS 748 'Avros', AN-12s, AN-32s, IL-76s, Canberras, IL-78 MKI, and now the Airborne Early Warning and Control/AWACS.

The station now has the honor of holding the first inflight refueling aircraft Squadron in IAF service, with No. 78 ‘Mid Air Refuelling Squadron’ (MARS) Squadron flying the IL-78MKIs.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces Air Technical Service Command established a major maintenance and supply facility at Agra, named "Agra Air Depot". The 3rd Air Depot Group serviced a wide variety of fighter, bomber and transport aircraft being used by Tenth Air Force and the Allied ground forces in Burma and Fourteenth Air Force in China. The depot stockpiled large amounts of material for shipment over the Himalayan Mountains ("The Hump") by Air Transport Command cargo aircraft flying to forward airfields in China. It also was a major stopover point on the ATC Karachi-Kunming air transport route. [8] The airport is mentioned in a chapter in Ernest Gann's Fate Is the Hunter, wherein he relays a story of coming within feet of destroying the Taj Mahal in a severely overloaded C-87 after takeoff. [9]

Agra Air Force Station

No. 50 Squadron IAF has been tasked with the operations of the newly inducted Beriev A-50E/I Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft. The AWACS has been mounted on a specially designed IL-76 with advanced avionics & telecommunication systems.

Structure

Runway

The airport is served by runway 05/23, which is 2,743.2 meters (9,000 ft) long and 45 meters (148 ft) wide and runway 12/30, which is 1,817.83 meters (5,964.0 ft) long and 45 meters (148 ft) wide.

Landing amenities

The airport has ILS CAT-II compliant for landing during the bad weather and foggy conditions. [10]

Terminal

The airport has one operational terminal and one planned. The current civil terminal has an area of 4,870 m2 (52,400 sq ft) with a capacity of 250 Arrivals and 250 Departures. [10] Air Force Arjun Nagar Gate is dedicated to passenger Entry up to Airport.

Future expansion

On 12 September 2023, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet cleared a 123 crore (US$15 million) proposal for land acquisition to expand the Agra Airport and upgrade the airport to international category. [11] The proposed expansion plan will involve acquisition of 92.50 acres of land from Abhaypura, Balhera, and Dhanauli. The plan also includes building a 30,000 sq. km. new terminal equipped with nine bays to accommodate nine Airbus A321 aircraft, the extension of the present runways, and other airport facilities. The new terminal is expected to be built in the next 36 months. [12]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
IndiGo Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Jaipur, [13] Lucknow, [14] Mumbai

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at AGR airport. See Wikidata query.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Prakash Narayan Airport</span> International airport in Patna, Bihar, India

Jay Prakash Narayan Airport is an domestic airport serving Patna, the capital of Bihar, India. It is named after the independence activist and political leader, Jayprakash Narayan. It is the 15th busiest airport in India. To meet demand, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is working to expand and modernise airport infrastructure. The airport is currently undergoing an ambitious expansion project that includes a new two-level passenger terminal, which will be completed by May 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prayagraj Airport</span> Domestic airport in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

Prayagraj Airport, also known as Allahabad Airport, is the domestic airport serving the city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. Located in the Bamrauli suburb of the city, it is one of the oldest airports in India. This airport is currently under joint operation of the Indian Air Force and the Airports Authority of India. It is the third busiest airport in Uttar Pradesh after Lucknow International Airport and Varanasi International Airport in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pune Airport</span> International airport serving Pune, Maharashtra, India

Pune Airport is an international airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. It is located at Lohegaon, approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) northeast of the historic centre of Pune. The airport is a civil enclave operated by the Airports Authority of India at the western side of Lohegaon Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force. The airport is the tenth-busiest airport by passenger traffic in India. The airport serves both domestic and international flights. In financial year 2023-24, the airport handled over 9.5 million passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vadodara Airport</span> Domestic airport in Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Vadodara Airport is a customs airport and Indian Air Force base serving the city of Vadodara in Gujarat, India. It is located in the suburb of Harni, northeast of Vadodara. It is the third-busiest airport in Gujarat, after Ahmedabad and Surat airports. In 2020 it was ranked the second cleanest airport in India by the Airports Authority of India.

Tezpur Airport, also known as Salonibari Air Force Station, is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force Station serving Tezpur, Assam, India. It is located in Salonibari, situated 8.5 km (5.3 mi) from the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilaspur Airport</span> Airport in Chhattisgarh India

Bilaspur Airport, officially known as Bilasa Devi Kevat Airport, is a domestic airport serving the city of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India. It is located at Chakarbhata, 10 km (6.2 mi) south from the city centre. The airport made by the Royal Indian Air Force in 1942, making it the first and oldest airport of Chhattisgarh. It is owned by the Airports Authority of India. In 1980s, the airport was used by Vayudoot to provide flights to Bhopal, Nagpur, Mumbai and Delhi. Currently, commercial scheduled flights are operated by Alliance Air to Bhopal, Delhi, Jabalpur and Prayagraj. It is named after Bilasa Bai Kevtin, a renowned 16th-century personality known for her bravery and courage to fight against difficult situations, who belonged to a fishermen tribe residing near the Arpa River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport</span> International Airport in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. The airport is located at Sonegaon, 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Nagpur. The airport covers an area of 1,355 acres. In 2005, it was named after B. R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution of India and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. The airport handles around 8,500 passengers per day and caters to four domestic airlines and two international airlines connecting Nagpur to Sharjah, Doha, and 14 domestic destinations. The airport spread over 1,460 acres is also home to Nagpur Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force. Growth in passenger traffic is fuelled by passengers traveling to and from the state capital Mumbai, located over 700 km (378 mi) away. The airport has one terminal and has two aerobridges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwalior Airport</span> Airport in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh India

Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Terminal, also known as Gwalior Airport, is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located in Maharajpur, 10 km north-east of the Gwalior. It is one of the five airports in Madhya Pradesh. The airport is named after Vijaya Raje Scindia, former prominent Member of Parliament and Maharani Of Gwalior belonging to the Scindia dynasty of the Maratha Empire. It is the largest airport of Madhya Pradesh in terms of size and only airport in Central India which has two runways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jammu Airport</span> Domestic airport in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Jammu Airport, officially known as Jammu Civil Enclave, is a domestic airport serving Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located 6.1 km (3.8 mi) south of the city centre and 14 km (8.7 mi) from the India–Pakistan border.

Jamnagar Airport, officially known as Civil Enclave Jamnagar, is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. It is owned by the Indian Air Force and also permits both commercial as well as private flights. It is the only airport in Gujarat which has two runways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodhpur Airport</span> Airport in Jodhpur, India

Jodhpur Airport is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. It is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and shares its airside with the Jodhpur Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport</span> Domestic airport in Leh, Ladakh, India

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is a domestic airport serving Leh, the capital of Ladakh, India. Situated at 3,256 m (10,682 ft) above mean sea level, it is the highest commercial airport in India and one of the highest in the world. The airport is named after 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk whose Spituk Monastery is in vicinity to the airfield. Due to its location in between the Himalayas, the approach to Leh Airport is one of the most challenging and scenic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Srinagar Airport</span> International Airport in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Sheikh Ul Alam International Airport or Srinagar Airport, also known as Budgam Airbase is an international airport serving Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is owned by the Indian Air Force with the Airports Authority of India operating a civil enclave at the airport and was designated as an international airport in 2005. The airport is located in Budgam, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Srinagar. It has an integrated domestic and international terminal with one asphalt runway.

Thanjavur Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 12 km (7.5 mi) south-west of the city in Pilaiyarpatti and near the village of Ravusapatti. The air force base was expected to start functioning by 2012. However, the schedule was delayed, and the air force base was inaugurated on 27 May 2013 by the then Minister of Defence, A. K. Antony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandigarh Airport</span> Customs airport in Chandigarh, India

Chandigarh Airport, also called Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, is a customs airport serving the union territory of Chandigarh, India. The airport is located in Jhiurheri, Punjab and shares space with the Indian Air Force. The airport caters to 17 domestic destinations and two international destinations. The airport is named after the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.The airport is operated by CHIAL which is a joint venture company between Airports Authority of India (51%), Government of Punjab (24.5%) and Government of Haryana (24.5%).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorakhpur Airport</span> Domestic airport in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Gorakhpur Airport, officially Mahayogi Gorakhnath Airport, is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Gorakhpur, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) operates it as a civil enclave at the Air Force base. The airport is located 8 km (5.0 mi) from the city centre. The airport covers an area of 0.71 acres (0.29 ha). In June 2017, the passenger terminal was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath.

Nal Air Force Station, also known as Bikaner Air Force Station and Civil Airport Bikaner, is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force Station, which serves the city of Bikaner in Rajasthan, India. It is located at Nal, 13 km (8 mi) west of the city. The civil enclave within is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and regular scheduled flight under the UDAN scheme were inaugurated in 2017. The IAF plans to deploy the first squardron of the Indeginious HAL Tejas MK.1A at this base

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rupsi Airport</span> Airport of Assam, India

Rupsi Airport is a domestic airport serving the city of Kokrajhar and Dhubri, Assam, India. It is located at Rupsi, 17 km (11 mi) north from the city centre. The airport serves as a way for people of the lower part of Assam to travel to India's major cities and states. It also serves as a layover for those traveling to the wildlife parks of Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Ultapani Reserve Forest and Manas National Park of Assam and Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district and Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bareilly Airport</span> Domestic airport in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India

Bareilly Airport is a domestic airport serving Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India at Indian Air Force's Trishul Air Base in Izzatnagar, located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north from the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidar Airport</span> Airport in Karnataka, India

Bidar Airport is a domestic airport serving the city of Bidar, Karnataka, India. It operates as a civil enclave on the Indian Air Force's Bidar Air Force Station. As of now, there are no flights currently operational.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. 1 2 "Kheria Airport (Agra Airport)". www.cityseeker.com.
  2. ↑ "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Yogi Govt Renames Gorakhpur and Agra Airports". The Quint . The Agra Airport will be renamed after RSS ideologue Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay airport.
  6. ↑ "Indian airports and the name game". India Today . 27 September 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  7. ↑ "IndiGo announces new flight between Agra and Bangalore!". Financial Express. 8 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Air Force History Index -- Search". airforcehistoryindex.org.
  9. ↑ Fate is the Hunter, Ernest K Gann, Simon & Schuster, 1961
  10. 1 2 "Agra Airport". Airports Authority of India.
  11. ↑ "Agra tourism gets a boost as UP promotes present airport project to international category". The Print. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Agra Airport Set To Be Expanded; ₹123cr Cleared For Land Acquisition". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  13. ↑ Menon, Omar Dr. (28 September 2023). "IndiGo To Launch Daily Flights From Jaipur To Agra". Simple Flying. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "Agra Lucknow flight: खत्म होने जा रहा है इंतजार, एक अक्टूबर से शुरू होगी आगरा-लखनऊ फ्लाइट".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.