Gaya Airport Template:Airport codes is an international airport serving Gaya, Bihar, India. This airport is 12 kilometres south-west of Gaya and 5 kilometres away from the temple city of Bodh Gaya, from where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.
Overview
Gaya Airport is spread over an area of 954 acres. An additional 100 acres of land is under encroachment while another 100 acres of land from four villages is to be acquired for runway expansion. The airport terminal building, spread over 7,500 square meters can handle 250 incoming and 250 outgoing passengers. This airport is mainly seasonal and primarily caters to Buddhist tourists coming from South East Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, etc.[1]
A January 2021 report by the Parliament of India described the IATA code as "inappropriate, unsuitable, offensive and embarrassing" for Gaya due to the city's religious significance. In its report, the Committee on Public Undertakings recommended changing the airport code from "GAY" to "YAG", asking the government to "make all efforts" to change the code. As of February 2022, IATA has rejected a code change, stating that airport codes are permanent unless a strong justification relating to air safety is given.[2] LGBT groups in India have criticized the parliamentary committee's request as reflective of homophobia.[3]
Expansion
An additional 100 acres of land is under encroachment while another 100 acres of land from four villages is to be acquired for runway expansion. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to develop the airport as a standby to the Kolkata Airport.[4] Minister of State for Civil Aviation K C Venugopal had informed the Rajya Sabha on 28 August 2013 that Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested the government of Bihar for a further acquisition of around 200 acres to allow the airport to be expanded. The airport is to be expanded and upgraded with the construction of a new passenger terminal building which would replace the current terminal structure. Other expansion works include expanding runaway 10/28, and installation of CAT-1 ILS approach lighting. In the future, a cargo terminal has also been planned to be built.[5]
Airlines and destinations
Statistics
Passenger, and Aircraft Movement at Gaya Airport (2011-2022)
| Year | Passengers | Change | Aircraft Movement | Change | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 47,311 | Template:Decrease 32.1% | 625 | Template:Decrease 20.7% | [6] |
| 2020–21 | 69,655 | Template:Decrease 70.7% | 788 | Template:Decrease 78.1% | [7] |
| 2019–20 | 237,452 | Template:Increase 11.1% | 3,606 | Template:Increase 36.1% | [8] |
| 2018–19 | 213,635 | Template:Increase 14.4% | 2,649 | Template:Increase 8.6% | [9] |
| 2017–18 | 186,670 | Template:Increase 5.1% | 2,439 | Template:Increase 11.2% | [10] |
| 2016–17 | 177,663 | Template:Increase 13.1% | 2,193 | Template:Increase 4.8% | [11] |
| 2015–16 | 157,144 | Template:Increase 22.0% | 2,093 | Template:Increase 28.0% | [12] |
| 2014–15 | 128,829 | Template:Increase 24.6% | 1,635 | Template:Increase 13.8% | [13] |
| 2013–14 | 102,212 | Template:Decrease 16.5% | 1,437 | Template:Decrease 5.6% | [14] |
| 2012–13 | 121,091 | Template:Increase 23.2% | 1,524 | Template:Increase 23.9% | [15] |
| 2011–12 | 98,273 | Template:Increase 94.0% | 1,230 | Template:Increase 108.5% | [16] |
See also
- Patna Airport
- Darbhanga Airport
- Bihta Airport
- Bihta Air Force Station
- List of airports in India
- List of the busiest airports in India
References
Template:Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ↑ Buddhist Tourists.
- ↑ 'GAY' code for Gaya airport inappropriate; make all efforts to change it: Parliamentary panel tells govt. The Economic Times. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
- ↑ Lawmakers Say This Holy City's Airport Code Is Too GAY, Farrukh, Rimal. Vice(7 February 2022). Retrieved 2022-02-15.
- ↑ Airport land issue: Patna's loss, Gaya's gain. The Times of India(13 August 2010). Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ↑ Gaya Airport - Status, Master Plan & Design. The Metro Rail Guy. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2021-2022. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2020-2021. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2019-2020. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2018-2019. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2017-2018. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2016-2017. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2015-2016. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2014-2015. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2013-2014. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2012-2013. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ↑ AAI Traffic News 2011-2012. www.aai.aero. Retrieved 6 March 2021.