Keshod Airport upgradation reviewed; A320, B737 ops by January 2027
Synopsis
Keshod Airport in Gujarat, just 40–60 km from the Gir National Park — the last refuge of the Asiatic lion — is being upgraded for ₹363 crore and is set to handle Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 aircraft by January 2027. It is a rare case of an airport originally built by a nawab in the 1930s, dormant for over two decades, now being transformed into a gateway for international wildlife tourism.
Key Takeaways
Keshod Airport upgradation was reviewed on 28 October 2026 by AAI Chairman Puneet Kansal and Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha .
Work is expected to be completed by January 2027 , enabling Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 operations.
The redevelopment is estimated at ₹363 crore and includes a new 6,500 sq metre terminal, runway expansion to 2,500 metres , and a new ATC tower.
The airport sits 40–60 km from Gir National Park , the sole natural habitat of the Asiatic lion .
The Government of Gujarat signed an MoU with AAI in December 2023 , providing 205 acres for development.
Commercial flights resumed on 17 April 2022 under the RCS-UDAN scheme; Alliance Air currently operates services from the airport.
The ongoing upgradation of Keshod Airport in Gujarat was reviewed on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, by Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Puneet Kansal, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), along with a member (planning) from AAI. The review assessed project implementation, adherence to timelines, quality standards, and inter-agency coordination.
Completion Timeline and Aircraft Capability
The upgradation of Keshod Airport is expected to be completed by January 2027, after which Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft will be able to operate from the facility. The AAI said this will mark a significant boost to tourism in the region.
The redevelopment is estimated to cost nearly ₹363 crore and covers the construction of a 6,500 square metre new terminal building, expansion of the existing runway to 2,500 metres x 45 metres, a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, and an apron capable of handling up to three narrow-body aircraft simultaneously. A link taxiway, a 701-metre-long parallel taxi track, an isolation bay, a perimeter road, and an operational boundary wall are also included under Phase I.
Gateway to Gir and Saurashtra Heritage
Keshod Airport's strategic advantage lies in its location — barely 40–60 km from the Gir National Park and Sasan Gir, the world's only natural habitat of the endangered Asiatic lion. The airport also serves as the nearest air gateway to the Somnath Temple, the Girnar Jain Temples, the Uparkot Fort, ancient Buddhist caves, and the historic stepwells Adi Kati Vav and Navghan Kuvo.
An official said: 'We expect a high volume of traffic at Keshod after the upgradation is completed and larger aircraft start operating. International tourists will also start using the airport as connectivity goes up to more locations across the country. There are enough facilities all around to handle more tourist volumes.'
A Historic Airport Revived Under UDAN
Spread across 450 acres, Keshod Airport was originally built in the early 1930s by Nawab Mohabat Khan, the Nawab of Junagadh, for his personal use. It later fell into disuse before being revived for commercial operations in the late 1980s. The last scheduled service from the airport was operated by Jet Airways in 2000.
Following the launch of the government's RCS-UDAN scheme, Keshod was designated an RCS airport. After a series of infrastructure upgrades and receipt of a DGCA licence for public aerodrome use, commercial flights resumed on 17 April 2022. Currently, Alliance Air operates regular services from the airport.
MoU and Land Allocation
The current phase of redevelopment was triggered after the Government of Gujarat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the AAI in December 2023, agreeing to provide 205 acres of land for the airport's development. This is the Nth time that state-centre cooperation under UDAN has unlocked tier-2 and tier-3 airport growth — a pattern that has gradually extended scheduled connectivity well beyond metro cities.
What Comes Next
With Phase I on track for a January 2027 deadline, attention will now shift to securing additional airline commitments for new routes. The upgrade is expected to draw both domestic leisure travellers headed to Gir and international wildlife tourists, potentially reshaping the tourism economics of the Saurashtra region.
Point of View
But the Gir-Somnath-Girnar cluster is one of India's most underleveraged tourism corridors — constrained less by demand than by accessibility. The real question is airline commitment: runway capacity for A320s means nothing without route incentives that attract carriers beyond Alliance Air. Past UDAN revivals have stalled at exactly this point, with upgraded airports sitting underutilised because airlines could not be locked into sustainable frequencies. January 2027 is the infrastructure deadline; the harder deadline is getting two or three carriers to commit to year-round Gir-linked routes before the paint dries.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Keshod Airport upgradation be completed?
The upgradation of Keshod Airport is expected to be completed by January 2027. Once done, it will be capable of handling Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft.
How much does the Keshod Airport redevelopment cost?
The redevelopment is estimated to cost nearly ₹363 crore. It includes a new 6,500 square metre terminal building, runway expansion to 2,500 metres, a new ATC tower, and an apron for up to three narrow-body aircraft.
Why is Keshod Airport important for tourism?
Keshod Airport is located just 40–60 km from Gir National Park and Sasan Gir, the only natural habitat of the endangered Asiatic lion. It also provides access to the Somnath Temple, Girnar Jain Temples, Uparkot Fort, and historic stepwells, making it a key gateway for Saurashtra tourism.
What is the history of Keshod Airport?
Keshod Airport was originally built in the 1930s by Nawab Mohabat Khan of Junagadh for personal use. It was revived for commercial flights in the late 1980s but last saw scheduled service in 2000 under Jet Airways, before being relaunched under the RCS-UDAN scheme with commercial flights resuming on 17 April 2022.
Which airlines currently operate from Keshod Airport?
Alliance Air currently operates regular flights from Keshod Airport. Following the January 2027 upgrade, the expanded infrastructure is expected to attract more carriers and enable wider domestic and international connectivity.
