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Naini–Saini Airport

Naini–Saini Airport (IATA: NNS, ICAO: VIPG), also known as Pithoragarh Airport, is a domestic airport serving Pithoragarh and Kumaon division in Uttarakhand, India. It is located at Naini-Saini, 4.5 km (2.8 mi) north-east from the city centre. The airport has been designated to be developed as a greenfield airport under the government's UDAN Scheme.[4]

Pithoragarh Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Uttarakhand
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesPithoragarh
LocationNaini-Saini, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
Built1991; 33 years ago (1991)
Coordinates29°35′32.85″N 80°14′30.39″E / 29.5924583°N 80.2417750°E / 29.5924583; 80.2417750
Map
NNS is located in Uttarakhand
NNS
NNS
Location of airport in Uttarakhand
NNS is located in India
NNS
NNS
NNS (India)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
14/32 1,600 5,250 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024)
Passengers1,773 (Increase 275.1%)
Aircraft movements230 (Increase 51.3%)
Cargo tonnage—
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

History

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The airport was constructed in 1991 for administrative use and planned for the operations of Dornier 228 type aircraft. To facilitate development, connectivity, socio-economic growth, and tourism in the state, the Government of Uttarakhand has upgraded it to category "2C" airport under Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, by extending the runway and building a passenger terminal to handle commercial operations. In the coming years, the airport will be expanded further to handle larger aircraft and more passengers, with night landing facilities for aircraft to facilitate operations at night.[5] Since the opening of the airport, it was used only for private and government purposes, until when in January 2019, it was included in the government's UDAN Scheme, and began to handle commercial operations and flights for the first time, to Dehradun, Ghaziabad and Pantnagar, operated with 9 seater aircraft by the regional carrier, Heritage Aviation.[6] However, due to multiple technical issues that persisted and occurred several times since February 2019, flight operations did not continue adequately after November 2019, and were indefinitely suspended in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] In August 2022, regular helicopter services from the airport to Dehradun and Pantnagar were started by Pawan Hans.[9]

In February 2023, the Union Cabinet approved the Indian Air Force's move to take over the airport operations. This was also approved by the Government of Uttarakhand. Post transfer, both military and commercial flights will be operated from the airstrip.[10][11]

After a gap of about four years, on 30 January 2024, flight operations were resumed by FlyBig to Dehradun from the airport, using a 19-seater Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft. The airline will later restart the flights to Ghaziabad and Pantnagar.[12][13]

As of October 2024, it was reported that the IAF and MoD were in an advanced stage of talks with the State Government to take over or operate from 3 civilian airports, including the Gauchar, Pithoragarh Airport and Dharasu Airports. The IAF has plans to establish an airstrip in the Spiti region as well. All the airstrips are capable and have been demonstrated to handle operations of the C-130J special operations aircraft.[14]

Structure

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The airport has a 1,600 m (5,200 ft)-long and 30 m (98 ft)-wide runway, oriented 14/32, which has taken its present length after extending it two times from 1,097 m (3,599 ft) and 1,508 m (4,948 ft), and is capable of handling ATR 72 type aircraft, an apron for parking of two ATR-72 type aircraft, a passenger terminal covering an area of 2,440 m2 (26,300 sq ft), capable of serving up to 300,000 passengers per annum, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, a fire station and a technical block. It is linked to Pithoragarh through an access road. In the coming years, the airport will be expanded further, by extending the runway and building a new passenger terminal to cater to more passengers and air traffic.[4][15]

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
FlyBig Dehradun,[16] Pantnagar

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Pithoragarh Airport Profile–CAPA". CAPA. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Executive Summary, Expansion of Naini-Saini airport" (PDF). RITES. October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Naini Saini Airport". eUttaranchal. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Air services between Pantnagar and Pithoragarh to remain suspended till Feb 18". Zee Business. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  8. ^ Punetha, Prem (5 November 2019). "Flight services suspended at Pithoragarh airport till Nov 6". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  9. ^ Srinivas, Eshita (29 August 2022). "Tourists In Uttarakhand Can Now Charter A Helicopter Between Dehradun And Pithoragarh". Travel + Leisure India. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  10. ^ "IAF to take over Naini Saini airport". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  11. ^ ANI; ThePrint (16 February 2023). "IAF to take over Pithoragarh airport in Uttarakhand". ThePrint. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Flight operations resume from Pithoragarh's Naini-Saini airport after three years! 19-seater aircraft to run between Dehradun and Pithoragarh – Details here". The Financial Express. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. ^ Shiraz, Zarafshan (30 January 2024). "Flight operations restart from Naini-Saini airport at Pithoragarh, linking sacred lands in Uttarakhand". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ "China on mind, IAF in talks with Uttarakhand to take over 3 airstrips". The Tribune. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Naini Saini Airport is ready for flight services in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, just 50 km from China border". Blitz. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Flight ops resume from Naini-Saini airport in Pithoragarh after 3 yrs". Business Standard. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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