Airport type Military Elevation AMSL 750 ft / 229 m 8,960 2,731 Elevation 750 m | Location Bikaner (India) 05/23 8,960 2,731 Asphalt Operator Indian Air Force | |
Nal Airport (IATA: BKB, ICAO: VIBK) is located 13 kilometres (8 mi) west of Bikaner in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as a civil enclave at the Bikaner Air Force Station. The enclave air terminal was inaugurated on 29 June 2014. The Rajasthan Govt. is pushing Air India to start its services in January 2016 using a small 56 seator aircraft on Delhi-Bikaner-Jaisalmer Route. This is expected to boost connectivity and give more power to Resurgent Rajasthan Tourism 3.0 Programme Rajasthan accounts for one crore International Tourists annually and Rajasthan Govt. is planning to increase them by 3.4 Crores. Air Flight services will play a major role in order to boost the tourism in the state.
History
The Rajasthan Govt. has invited Air India to start the flight service to Bikaner and Jaisalmer via Delhi. Air India is believed to have accepted the proposal and planning to launch a small Aircraft (50 Seater) to boost the tourism in the state. The government-owned Vayudoot operated a 20-seater aircraft to this airport in the past but the service was terminated in 1987. The foundation stone of the new terminal was laid in March 2009 by the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The airport was expected to be completed in March 2012. A dispute between the AAI and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding height of the terminal building led to delay in starting air services. AAI authorities constructed the building up to the height of 6.75 meters, whereas MoD had permitted a maximum height of 5 meters. The civil enclave will include a terminal for 100 passengers and a 60-by-90-metre (200 ft × 300 ft) apron capable of holding two ATR-72 aircraft. Bikaner Airport construction was completed in August 2013. The Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje inaugurated the civil air terminal in Bikaner on 29 June 2014.