Kushinagar International Airport (KBK)

Kushinagar International Airport (IATA: KBK, ICAO: VEKI) is an international airport located in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Type of facility and operations: The airport is a public facility owned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and operated by the Airports Authority of India. It was designed to serve as an international gateway, primarily to facilitate air travel for Buddhist pilgrims visiting the historic Mahaparinirvana Sthal of Lord Buddha. In August 2021, it was licensed as a customs-notified airport to handle international passengers and pilgrims. The airport features a single asphalt runway (designated 11/29) measuring 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) in length and 45 meters (148 feet) in width, making it the longest runway in Uttar Pradesh. Its apron can accommodate up to four A-321 type aircraft, and the terminal building is equipped to handle 300 peak hour passengers.

Notable features or history: The concept for an international airport in Kushinagar emerged in 2008. Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially recognized it as an international airport on June 24, 2020, with the goal of attracting Buddhist pilgrims. The airport was formally inaugurated on October 20, 2021. The inaugural international flight, carrying a delegation of Buddhist clergy and dignitaries, arrived from Colombo, Sri Lanka, on the day of its inauguration. The first scheduled domestic flight, operated by SpiceJet from Delhi, landed on November 26, 2021. The airport's design was inspired by "Ulta Chaata" (inverted canopies).

Current status: Kushinagar International Airport has been closed since 2023 due to commercial non-viability and insufficient demand for scheduled commercial passenger flights. As of October 2025, it does not operate any scheduled commercial passenger flights. However, it remains available for non-scheduled operations, including VVIP (Very Very Important Person) flights. Issues that were hindering operations have reportedly been addressed since the latter half of 2024, with resolution targeted by late 2025. The airport obtained Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) certification in July 2025, allowing for all-weather operations.