Goa International Airport
| Continent: Asia | Country: India | Region: Goa |
| Goa International Airport Dabolim Airport |
|
| Location | Dabolim, Mormugao, South-Goa, Goa |
| IATA code | GOI |
| ICAO code | VOGO |
| Airport type | Public/Military |
| Website | http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/goa_generalinfo.jsp |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.10 |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | 119.70 |
| ATIS | 126.60 |
Introduction
Goa International Airport (IATA: GOI, ICAO: VOGO), more commonly known as Dabolim Airport, is an international airport located in the city of Dabolim in Goa, India. It is the only airport in the state and operates as a civil enclave in a military airbase named INS Hansa. It is 4 km from the nearest city Vasco da Gama, 23 km from the South Goa district headquarters of Margao, and 30 km from the capital city Panjim.
History
The airport was built, in 1955, by the Government of the Portuguese State of India, on 249 acres (101 ha) of land, as the Aeroporto de Dabolim, later receiving the official name of Aeroporto General Bérnard Guedes.
Until 1961, the airport served as the main hub of the Portuguese India's airline TAIP (Transportes Aéreos da Índia Portuguesa), which on a regular schedule served Daman, Diu, Karachi, Mozambique, Portuguese Timor, and other destinations.
During the Indian invasion of Goa, in December 1961, the airport was bombarded by the Indian Air Force with parts of the infrastructure being destroyed. Two civilian planes that were in the airport - a Lockheed Constellation from TAP (Portuguese International Airlines) and a Douglas DC-4 from TAIP - managed to escape with refugees, during the night, to Karachi. In April 1962, it was occupied by the Indian Navy's air wing when Major General K.P. Candeth, who had led the successful military operation into Goa, "handed over" the airport to the Indian Navy before relinquishing charge as its military governor to a Lieutenant Governor of the then Union Territory of Goa in June.