Lengpui Airport (IATA: AJL, ICAO: VELP) is a domestic airport serving Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, India. It is located at Lengpui in the Mamit district of the state. The airport is connected by flights to Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal and Silchar and is located at a distance of 32 km from Aizawl. Lengpui Airport is the first airport in the country to be built by the State Government.[4]
Lengpui Airport Lengpui Ṭumhmun | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
Owner | Government of Mizoram | ||||||||||
Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
Serves | Aizawl | ||||||||||
Location | Lengpui, Mamit district, Mizoram, India | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 405 m / 1,328.4 ft | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 23°50′18.39″N 092°37′13.29″E / 23.8384417°N 92.6203583°E | ||||||||||
Website | Lengpui Airport | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
AJL Location of the airport in Mizoram AJL AJL (India) | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024) | |||||||||||
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The airport was constructed at a cost of ₹ 979 crore,[5] and was completed in a record time of two years and two months. The construction work started in December 1995 and completed in February 1998. The airport was expected to be able to cater to 300 incoming and outgoing passengers.[6] Before the construction of this airport, Aizawl was 130 km (81 mi) from the nearest railway head at Bairabi and 205 km (127 mi) from the nearest airport at Silchar. With regards to land acquisition, it has been found out that about 65 percent of the area acquired, belonged to some high government officials and political leaders at Aizawl, who started buying plots from people in Lengpui village at very low prices. They then donated the land to the government for the airport for which the rich persons got much more compensation as donors than the actual farmers.[7] Previously, the airport was also served by Air Deccan which later became Kingfisher Red, but the airline stopped operating from the airport in April 2012.[8]
The 2,500-metre runway of the Lengpui airport is unique in that it has many hilly streams running underneath.[9] The airport is one of the airports in India that has a table top runway (others being Kozhikode , Shimla , Mangalore)[10] which creates an optical illusion that requires a very precise approach from the pilot.[11] At present, Lengpui Airport has installed a Cat I instrument landing system,[12] which will help planes land safely during low visibility conditions.[13] A runway safety area[14] and isolation parking bay are also planned.[15] The Indian Air Force is planning to station at least 4 jet fighters at Lengpui airport.[16] Indian Oil handles the aviation fuel service department of Lengpui airport.[citation needed]
Airlines | Destinations | Refs. |
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Alliance Air | Dimapur,[17] Guwahati, Imphal,[18] Kolkata, Silchar, Shillong | [19] |
IndiGo | Agartala, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata[20] | [21] |
Rank | Destinations | Frequency (weekly) |
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1 | Guwahati | 11 |
2 | Imphal | 7 |
3 | Kolkata | 7 |
4 | Silchar | 5 |
5 | Delhi | 4 |
6 | Shillong | 4 |
A Helicopter service by Pawan Hans operating in Lengpui connects Aizawl with Lunglei, Lawngtlai, Siaha, Chawngte, Serchhip, Champhai, Kolasib, Khawzawl, Mamit and Hnahthial.[23][24]