The Palali Airport (Jaffna International Airport) was recently opened by the Government of Sri Lanka along with a few Indian dignitaries. The Government of India provided a fund of Rs 300 crores for its construction. The Aviation Minister Mr Hardeep Singh Puri was also present for the inauguration of the new terminal.
Initially constructed as a military airbase during the 2nd World War, the airport has an elevation of 10 m and has one runway designated 05/23 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,400 by 30 metres. The first flight to land was an Alliance Air (subsidiary airline of Air India) flight from Chennai which was the first international service as all the Alliance Air flights usually have services in regional sectors.
