Flight operations at Gujarat's Rajkot International Airport began on Sunday with the arrival of the first flight from Indore, according to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport on July 27, 2023.
The facility is designed to accommodate 500 passengers during peak hours, with a plan to expand it up to 2,800 passengers during peak hours and an annual passenger handling capacity of 35 lakh passengers, according to an AAI release.
Taking to its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the AAI wrote, "The recently inaugurated Rajkot Airport @aairajairport has officially commenced its flight operations today. An exciting milestone was reached when the inaugural flight of @IndiGo6E (ATR 72) aircraft, from Indore landed at the airport."
The state's second international airport at Rajkot, which connects the western half of Gujarat, would give direct access for foreign visitors to the city and surrounding districts of Saurashtra. According to the statement, the facility will help the region's trade, tourism, education, and heavy and small-scale businesses.
Furthermore, the 3,040-meter-long runway is fitted with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) to facilitate 24 X 7 operations, it said, adding that the airport has room for 14 aircraft to accommodate more flights.