Rajkot Airport shut: Commercial ops shift to new international airport today

While the Airports Authority of India shut down the Rajkot Airport, located on Jamnagar road in the city, for scheduled commercial flights, it will continue to handle VVIP flights, among others.

“We are shifting our staff and equipment to the new airport from the Rajkot Airport and therefore, no flight was operated on Saturday,” said Diganta Borah, director of Rajkot International Airport, who was also the director of Rajkot Airport.

“We are hopeful of making the new international airport operations-ready by Saturday,” he added.
Borah said that the new airport will welcome its inaugural flight – Indore-Rajkot-Indore flight of Indigo – at 7.55 am on Sunday. “The flight will be given a water-cannon salute upon landing. We have also planned a small ceremony, which will be presided over by local MP and MLAs. A small cultural programme will also be organised,” he added.

The Prime Minister had dedicated the new greenfield Rajkot International Airport to the nation on July 27. The airport, which has been developed at a cost of Rs 1,405 crore at Hirasar, is located around 30 km east of Rajkot.
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC), which provides public transport service in the state, will run dedicated buses between the new airport and Rajkot city.

Officials said that a bus will depart from GSRTC busport on Dhebar Road at an interval of every two hours from 6 am on Sunday. “In all, 11 or 12 flights are scheduled to be operated from the new airport on Sunday,” said Borah.