The Indian government has granted international status to the domestic airport in Jaipur, with this Jaipur becomes the 14th International Airport of the country. This was the proposal of the Ministry of Civil Aviation in which the views of Ministry of Finance, Health, Home Affairs, Environment and Forests, Tourism and Planning Commission had been incorporated.

The then Finance Minister while presenting the interim budget for 2004-05 on 3rd February 2004 had announced that Jaipur Airport should be converted into an international airport to boost tourism in Rajasthan.

The Jaipur (Sanganer) Airport belongs to the Airport Authority of India (AAI).  It is one of the 12 modern airports where passenger friendly facilities have been upgraded and modernized by the AAI. Since February 2002 Indian Airlines have been operating international flights from Jaipur to Dubai and Bangkok.

The runway length at Jaipur Airport is 9000 feet.  The civil apron can accommodate four AB 320 type aircrafts at a time.  The terminal building can accommodate 500 passengers at a time and is equipped with all modern passengers amenities including customs and immigration facilities to handle international chartered flights.

There has been a long-term plan for undertaking construction of a new international terminal building, which can cater to about 1000 passengers in an hour.  There is also a plan to extend the runway to 12000 feet and construct nine in contact parking stands with aerobridges.

With international status being accrued to Jaipur Airport, there will be substantial increase in aeronautical revenue because of increase in rates of landing/parking charges and Route Navigational Facilities Charges (RNFC). 

More international and chartered flights are now expected to operate through Jaipur Airport.  More wide-bodied jets will also operate which can be considered as an alternate to the Delhi International Airport specifically during winter season and at times of congestion over Delhi.

The State Government of Rajasthan had long since recommended giving the Jaipur Airport international status.

Declaration of an airport as international depends upon traffic potential and demand from airlines for operation of international flights.  The following facilities at domestic airport are considered sufficient for declaring it as International Airport:

(i)            Runway length should be at least 9000 ft.

(ii)            Availability of Ground Lighting Facilities, ILS for operation of aircrafts at night.

(iii)          Requirement/demand for scheduled national/international airline operations.

(iv)          Availability of custom, immigration, health, animal and plant quarantine services.

(v)            Bilateral agreement between countries under which it may be offered as a point of call to foreign carriers for operations.
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