Cooch Behar Airport: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by BrownHairedGirl
Last edited March 16, 2026
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
UpdateBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
22,126 edits
m robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
m updated details
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Airport of West Bengal, India}}
{{Short description|Domestic airport in West Bengal, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Infobox airport
| name                  = Cooch Behar Airport
| name                  = Cooch Behar Airport
| image                  = COB airport.jpg
| image                  = File:COB_airport1.jpg
| IATA                  = COH
| IATA                  = COH
| ICAO                  = VECO
| ICAO                  = VECO
| pushpin_map            = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_map            = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_relief        = 1
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location of the airport in West Bengal
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location of the airport in West Bengal
| pushpin_label          = '''COH'''
| pushpin_label          = '''COH'''
Line 15: Line 14:
| owner                  = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| owner                  = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| operator              = Airports Authority of India
| operator              = Airports Authority of India
| city-served            = Cooch Behar
| opened                = {{start date and age|1945|||df=yes|p=n|br=n}}
| location              = [[Cooch Behar]], India
| city-served            = [[Cooch Behar]] and [[Alipurduar]]
| location              = Cooch Behar, [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| elevation-f            = 141
| elevation-f            = 141
| elevation-m            = 43
| elevation-m            = 43
| coordinates            = {{coord|26|19|52|N|89|28|06|E|type:airport}}
| coordinates            = {{coord|26|19|52|N|89|28|06|E|type:airport}}
| website                = {{url|https://aai.aero/en/node/77619}}
| website                = {{URL|https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/coochbehar|Coochbehar Airport}}
| r1-number              = 04/22
| r1-number              = 04/22<ref name="ICAO"/>
| r1-length-f            = 3507
| r1-length-f            = 3507
| r1-length-m            = 1069
| r1-length-m            = 1069
| r1-surface            = [[Asphalt]]
| r1-surface            = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| footnotes             = Sources<ref name="ICAO"/>
| stat-year    = April 2024 – March 2025
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data  = 5,478 ({{increase}} 25%)
| stat2-header = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data  = 664 ({{increase}} 16.9%)
| stat3-header = Cargo tonnage
| stat3-data  = —
| footnotes   = Source: [[Airports Authority of India|AAI]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure III – Passenger Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex3.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex2.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex4.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''Cooch Behar Airport''' {{airport codes|COH|VECO}}<ref name="ICAO">{{cite web |url = http://www.icao.int/anb/aig/Taxonomy/R4CDLocationIndicatorsbystate.pdf |title = ICAO Location Indicators by State |publisher = [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] |date = 12 January 2006}}</ref> is located at [[Cooch Behar, West Bengal]], India and serves the greater Assam-Bengal border area. The airport covers an area of 173 acres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/cooch_behar.jsp |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225073024/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/cooch_behar.jsp |archive-date=25 February 2008 }}</ref>
'''Cooch Behar Airport''' {{airport codes|COH|VECO}}<ref name="ICAO">{{cite web |url = http://www.icao.int/anb/aig/Taxonomy/R4CDLocationIndicatorsbystate.pdf |title = ICAO Location Indicators by State |publisher = [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] |date = 12 January 2006 |access-date = 8 June 2010 |archive-date = 26 September 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235554/http://www.icao.int/anb/aig/Taxonomy/R4CDLocationIndicatorsbystate.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> is a [[domestic airport]] serving the city of [[Cooch Behar, West Bengal]], [[India]] and parts of [[North Bengal]] and [[Assam]]. It is located {{cvt|6.2|km}} from the city centre. The airport is spread over an area of 173 acres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/cooch_behar.jsp |title=Airports Authority of India |access-date=25 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225073024/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/cooch_behar.jsp |archive-date=25 February 2008 }}</ref>


== Facilities ==
== Facilities ==
The airport is located at an elevation of 141 feet (43 m) above mean sea level.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-01|title=Aerodrome Chart|url=https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip-v2-02-2019/eAIP/VECO-ADC.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-19|website=Aeronautical Information Management|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024171116/https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip-v2-02-2019/eAIP/VECO-ADC.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2021 }}</ref> It has one runway designated 04/22 with an asphalt surface measuring {{convert|3,507 by 100|feet}} without [[Instrument landing system]]. The airport can only handle [[Visual flight rules|VFR flights]] during the day. Improvements in [[Radar]] as well as other runway systems ane happening.There is presently a high security team residing in the airport provided by [[Central Industrial Security Force]] and Coochbehar District police. The airport uses a [[Non-directional beacon|Non-directional Beacon]] for navigation services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=IN00481&sch=VECO|title=World Aero Data: COOCH BEHAR – VECO|website=worldaerodata.com|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714215216/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=IN00481&sch=VECO|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The airport is located at an elevation of 141 feet (43 m) above mean sea level.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-01|title=Aerodrome Chart|url=https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip-v2-02-2019/eAIP/VECO-ADC.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-19|website=Aeronautical Information Management|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024171116/https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip-v2-02-2019/eAIP/VECO-ADC.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2021 }}</ref> It has one runway designated 04/22 with an asphalt surface, measuring {{convert|3,507 by 100|feet}} without an [[instrument landing system]]. The airport can handle only flights using [[visual flight rules]] during the day. Improvements in radar as well as other runway systems have been completed, such as installation of lights on the runway, while the instrument landing system will be installed in the near future. There is presently a high security team residing in the airport. The airport uses a [[non-directional beacon]] for navigation services. Commercial services resumed from Cooch Behar with IndiaOne Air starting flights to [[Kolkata]] on 21 February 2023.<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news|author1=Banerjee, Tamaghna, Bhattacharya, Pinak Priya|title=Cooch Behar back on West Bengal's aviation map|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cooch-behar-back-on-west-bengals-aviation-map/articleshow/98134654.cms|work=The Times of India|date=22 February 2023|access-date=22 February 2023|language=en}}</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=160>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
File:COB airport4.jpg|The airport's gate
File:COB airport4.jpg|Entrance of the airport  
File:Coochbehar airport.jpg|The terminal building
File:Cooch Behar Airport Terminal.png |Terminal building of the airport
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Airlines and destinations ==
== Recent developments ==
No airline flies at this moment.
 
[[Private flight|VIP flights]] and [[Military aviation|Military Operations]] occasionally occur.
In March 2020, lights were installed in the boundaries of the airport and the runway was repaired. Security was also increased in and around the premises.
[[File:COB airport.jpg|thumb|Terminal of the airport]]
[[File:Cooch Behar Airport ATC Tower.jpg|thumb|[[Air Traffic Control]] tower of the airport]]


== Recent developments ==
While the longstanding demand of residents to resume flights from the airport in North Bengal remains unfulfilled for over 25 years, the Airports Authority of India revamped and operationalised the [[Rupsi Airport]] at Rupsi in [[Kokrajhar district]] of Assam to restart services after three decades, to handle the traffic. However, it mostly handles the traffic from [[Dhubri]] (the city it serves) and adjoining regions from [[Kokrajhar]], [[Bongaigaon]], etc., and does not act as a solution to Cooch Behar, because that airport is {{cvt|70|km}} from it; thus it is too far to cater the traffic.


Reportedly, in March 2020 lights were installed in the boundaries of the airport and the Runway was repaired. Security was also increased in and around the premises.
The airport's license was valid till 27 January 2021, but the [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)]] decided not to renew the license until further notice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cooch Behar airport wings clipped for now|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/cooch-behar-airport-wings-clipped-for-now/cid/1800448|access-date=2021-10-27|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> As of February 2023, it received its license again to restart commercial operations, with daily flights to Kolkata operated by the new low-cost regional airline, IndiaOne Air.<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news|author1=Banerjee, Tamaghna, Bhattacharya, Pinak Priya|title=Cooch Behar back on West Bengal's aviation map|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cooch-behar-back-on-west-bengals-aviation-map/articleshow/98134654.cms|work=The Times of India|date=22 February 2023|access-date=22 February 2023|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Cooch Behar Airport Terminal.png|thumb|Cooch Behar Airport Terminal]]
[[File:Cooch Behar Airport ATC Tower.jpg|thumb|ATC Tower]]


While the longstanding demand of residents to resume flights from Cooch Behar airport in Bengal remains unfulfilled for over 25 years, authorities have readied the aerodrome at Rupsi in Kokrajhar district of Assam to restart services after three decades.
== Airlines and destinations ==
The Cooch Behar and Kokrajhar districts are contiguous to each other.
{{Airport destination list
“The Airports Authority of India is working for resumption of flights from [[Rupsi Airport|Rupsi]], while it has decided not to renew the licence for the Cooch Behar airport. Such moves show the central government’s bias against Bengal and for Assam where the BJP is in power,” said Bengal backward classes’ welfare minister and [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool Congress]] leader Binoy Krishna Burman who hails from Cooch Behar.
<!-- -->
|[[IndiaOne Air]]| [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]](Ends 31 January 2026)<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/flights-to-cooch-behar-to-stop-as-indiaone-air-cites-operational-reasons-prnt/cid/2135742 | title=Flights to Cooch Behar to stop as IndiaOne Air cites operational reasons | website=www.telegraphindia.com | date=2025-12-02}}</ref>
}}


The runway that has also been revamped can handle ATR-72 type aircraft. There is also a parking area for around 100 cars at the airport. Initially, there are plans to operate flights connecting Rupsi with Calcutta and Guwahati from February, said sources.
==Future expansion==
There have been talks between the [[Government of West Bengal]] and the Airports Authority of India to expand the runway length to accommodate larger aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government plans to expand Cooch Behar runway |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/government-plans-to-expand-cooch-behar-runway/cid/1851806 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref> Developments related to the airport boundary and lights were also done.


The airport's license was valid till 27 January 2021 but the [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)]] decided not to renew the license until further notice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cooch Behar airport wings clipped for now|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/cooch-behar-airport-wings-clipped-for-now/cid/1800448|access-date=2021-10-27|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>
In a meeting between the Cooch Behar district administration and the Airports Authority of India in September 2023, plans were laid to operate two flights daily from the airport. A plan for a Cooch behar to [[Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport|Guwahati]] flight service was also discussed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plan to launch one more flight: Upgrade of Cooch Behar airport in progress |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/plan-to-launch-one-more-flight-upgrade-of-cooch-behar-airport-in-progress/cid/1967465 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 64: Line 74:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Cite web|last=Aerodrome Data|first=VECO / COH|title=Cooch Behar Airport Details|url=https://aim-india.aai.aero/sites/default/files/aip_supplements/AIPS_2019_55.pdf|url-status=live|website=[[Airports Authority Of India]]}}
*{{Cite web|last=Aerodrome Data|first=VECO / COH|title=Cooch Behar Airport Details|url=https://aim-india.aai.aero/sites/default/files/aip_supplements/AIPS_2019_55.pdf|website=Airports Authority of India}}


{{Airports in India}}
{{Airports in India}}
Line 74: Line 84:
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cooch Behar district]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cooch Behar district]]
[[Category:Transport in Cooch Behar]]
[[Category:Transport in Cooch Behar]]
[[Category:Year of establishment missing]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1945]]
 
[[Category:1945 establishments in India]]
 
[[Category:Airports Authority of India]]
{{India-airport-stub}}

Latest revision as of 02:55, 16 March 2026


Cooch Behar Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerAirports Authority of India
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesCooch Behar and Alipurduar
LocationCooch Behar, West Bengal, India
Opened1945; 81 years ago (1945)
Elevation AMSL141 ft / 43 m
Coordinates26°19′52″N 89°28′06″E / 26.33111°N 89.46833°E / 26.33111; 89.46833
WebsiteCoochbehar Airport
Map
Location of the airport in West Bengal
COH is located in India
COH
COH
COH (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04/22[1] 3,507 1,069 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2024 – March 2025)
Passengers5,478 (Increase 25%)
Aircraft movements664 (Increase 16.9%)
Cargo tonnage—
Source: AAI[2][3][4]

Cooch Behar Airport (IATA: COH, ICAO: VECO)[1] is a domestic airport serving the city of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India and parts of North Bengal and Assam. It is located 6.2 km (3.9 mi) from the city centre. The airport is spread over an area of 173 acres.[5]

Facilities[edit | edit source]

The airport is located at an elevation of 141 feet (43 m) above mean sea level.[6] It has one runway designated 04/22 with an asphalt surface, measuring 3,507 by 100 feet (1,069 by 30 m) without an instrument landing system. The airport can handle only flights using visual flight rules during the day. Improvements in radar as well as other runway systems have been completed, such as installation of lights on the runway, while the instrument landing system will be installed in the near future. There is presently a high security team residing in the airport. The airport uses a non-directional beacon for navigation services. Commercial services resumed from Cooch Behar with IndiaOne Air starting flights to Kolkata on 21 February 2023.[7]

  • Entrance of the airport
    Entrance of the airport
  • Terminal building of the airport
    Terminal building of the airport

Recent developments[edit | edit source]

In March 2020, lights were installed in the boundaries of the airport and the runway was repaired. Security was also increased in and around the premises.

Terminal of the airport
Air Traffic Control tower of the airport

While the longstanding demand of residents to resume flights from the airport in North Bengal remains unfulfilled for over 25 years, the Airports Authority of India revamped and operationalised the Rupsi Airport at Rupsi in Kokrajhar district of Assam to restart services after three decades, to handle the traffic. However, it mostly handles the traffic from Dhubri (the city it serves) and adjoining regions from Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, etc., and does not act as a solution to Cooch Behar, because that airport is 70 km (43 mi) from it; thus it is too far to cater the traffic.

The airport's license was valid till 27 January 2021, but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India) decided not to renew the license until further notice.[8] As of February 2023, it received its license again to restart commercial operations, with daily flights to Kolkata operated by the new low-cost regional airline, IndiaOne Air.[7]

Airlines and destinations[edit | edit source]

AirlinesDestinations
IndiaOne Air Kolkata(Ends 31 January 2026)[9]

Future expansion[edit | edit source]

There have been talks between the Government of West Bengal and the Airports Authority of India to expand the runway length to accommodate larger aircraft.[10] Developments related to the airport boundary and lights were also done.

In a meeting between the Cooch Behar district administration and the Airports Authority of India in September 2023, plans were laid to operate two flights daily from the airport. A plan for a Cooch behar to Guwahati flight service was also discussed.[11]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ICAO Location Indicators by State" (PDF). International Civil Aviation Organization. 12 January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  4. ↑ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "Airports Authority of India". Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  6. ↑ "Aerodrome Chart" (PDF). Aeronautical Information Management. 1 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Banerjee, Tamaghna, Bhattacharya, Pinak Priya (22 February 2023). "Cooch Behar back on West Bengal's aviation map". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 February 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "Cooch Behar airport wings clipped for now". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Flights to Cooch Behar to stop as IndiaOne Air cites operational reasons". www.telegraphindia.com. 2 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Government plans to expand Cooch Behar runway". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Plan to launch one more flight: Upgrade of Cooch Behar airport in progress". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 25 October 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cooch_Behar_Airport&oldid=469957"
Discover more