Kannur International Airport (CNN) Complete Guide 2026

Where is Kannur International Airport located?

Kannur International Airport (CNN/VOKN) is located at Mattannur in Kannur district of Kerala, roughly 25 km inland from Kannur town and 65 km from Kozhikode. It sits on a plateau at about 330 metres elevation, with a 3,050-metre runway suitable for wide-body aircraft. The airport opened for commercial operations in December 2018, making it Kerala’s fourth international airport after Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

The airport was built largely to decongest Kozhikode’s Calicut International Airport, which was under pressure from the sheer volume of NRI traffic returning from the Gulf. It also cuts travel time for families from Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad and parts of South Karnataka who earlier drove several hours to Calicut or Mangalore airports.

Which airlines operate from Kannur Airport?

Kannur Airport hosts a mix of Indian and Gulf carriers operating scheduled passenger services. Airlines rotate routes frequently, so the mix you see today may look different next quarter. On the international side, Gulf carriers run a majority of departures, while Indian full-service and low-cost carriers dominate domestic slots.

International carriers and typical routes

• Dubai (DXB) and Sharjah (SHJ) – UAE
• Doha (DOH) – Qatar
• Muscat (MCT) – Oman
• Bahrain (BAH) – Bahrain
• Kuwait City (KWI) – Kuwait
• Riyadh (RUH) and Jeddah (JED) – Saudi Arabia

Domestic routes

• Bengaluru (BLR)
• Chennai (MAA)
• Mumbai (BOM)
• Delhi (DEL)
• Hyderabad (HYD) – seasonal

Flight frequencies and airline combinations change each season. Always check the live schedule on happyfares.in before finalising travel plans.

What facilities are available at Kannur Airport?

Kannur has a single integrated passenger terminal designed to handle around 1.5 million passengers a year, with enough space to feel calm outside peak Gulf-flight windows. The terminal is split across arrivals on the ground level and departures on the upper level, with separate immigration and baggage zones for international travellers.

Terminal amenities

• Free Wi-Fi across landside and airside zones
• Duty-free at departures and arrivals for international passengers
• Coffee shops, South Indian quick-service restaurants and snack bars
• ATMs and forex counters in the arrivals hall
• Prayer rooms and family lounges
• Baby-care rooms and accessible toilets

Lounges and premium services

Kannur offers a paid-access business lounge near the international departures gates, with meals, showers and quiet work areas. Priority Pass, DreamFolks and select credit-card programmes are usually accepted, though eligibility rules change from time to time. Verify your card’s current lounge list before travel.

How do you reach Kannur Airport from nearby cities?

Kannur Airport is built inland at Mattannur, so it’s actually closer to some Wayanad and Karnataka towns than to Kannur city itself. Most travellers arrive by KSRTC bus, pre-booked taxis or private cars. The airport connects to NH-66 and the Kannur-Mysuru road, giving reasonable access to Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kasaragod, Mananthavady and Virajpet.

Driving distances and typical travel times

Public transport and taxis

KSRTC runs airport shuttle services from Kannur, Thalassery, Kozhikode and Mananthavady. Prepaid taxis are available at the arrivals kerb, and app-based cabs also serve the airport but with variable wait times, especially late at night when most Gulf flights land. Private cars can use the multi-level short-stay and long-stay parking on the terminal premises.

What should Gulf NRI travellers know before flying to Kannur?

Kannur Airport is essentially a Gulf NRI airport first and a tourist gateway second. Peak travel windows around Onam, Ramadan, Eid and the April-May summer break see congested immigration queues and heavy checked baggage. The runway and terminal can comfortably handle A330 and B777 traffic, which lets Gulf carriers operate high-density configurations.

Practical tips for NRI travellers

• Reach the terminal at least 3.5 hours before international departure during peak seasons.
• Consolidate baggage into fewer, sturdier pieces – Gulf carriers enforce piece and weight limits strictly.
• Carry a photocopy of your visa page separately from your passport.
• Keep your OCI/PIO card handy if you’re travelling with family members holding different passports.
• For infant and senior travellers, request wheelchair assistance during booking itself.

Customs and duty-free rules

Indian customs duty-free allowances for returning residents change periodically, especially around gold and electronics. Check the current Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) limits before you fly. Declare all dutiable goods at the red channel to avoid penalties. Many Kannur-bound passengers get caught up on unaccompanied baggage and excess gold rules, so read the latest advisory.

When is the best time to book flights from Kannur?

Fares from Kannur move in clear seasonal patterns because demand is driven by NRI vacation calendars rather than corporate travel. Summer (April-June), Onam (August-September), Christmas (late December) and Ramadan-Eid windows see the highest fares, often 40-60% above the off-season baseline. January-March and late September tend to be the cheapest international windows from CNN.

Booking windows

• Gulf routes: book 8-12 weeks ahead for peak seasons, 3-6 weeks for off-peak.
• Domestic metro routes: book 3-6 weeks ahead for best fares.
• Last-minute bookings: expect sharp spikes from 10 days before departure.

Track fares across multiple dates and compare airlines in one search. On happyfares.in you can view a week-wide fare grid and stretch or shrink your trip by a day or two to save thousands of rupees, especially on Gulf sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IATA code for Kannur International Airport?

The IATA code for Kannur International Airport is CNN and the ICAO code is VOKN. It is Kerala’s fourth international airport, located at Mattannur in Kannur district, about 25 km from Kannur city and 65 km from Kozhikode.

Which international destinations can you fly to from Kannur?

Kannur Airport offers direct flights to Gulf cities including Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Bahrain, Kuwait, Riyadh and Jeddah. These routes mainly serve Kerala’s large NRI workforce, with seasonal capacity increases during Onam, Eid and summer vacation.

What are the domestic routes from Kannur Airport?

Kannur Airport has domestic connectivity to Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. Flight frequencies vary by season and airline schedules change frequently, so always verify the live timetable before booking your trip.

How far is Kannur Airport from the city?

Kannur Airport is about 25 km from Kannur town, 65 km from Kozhikode city and 45 km from Thalassery. KSRTC buses, prepaid taxis and app-based cabs connect the airport to major towns across North Kerala and parts of Karnataka.

Is Kannur Airport open 24 hours?

Kannur Airport operates 24 hours, though passenger services like check-in counters, cafes and retail outlets align with scheduled flight timings. Most Gulf flights are late-night or early-morning departures, with domestic flights spread across day hours.

How do I book the cheapest flights from Kannur?

Book early, stay flexible on travel dates, and compare multiple airlines in a single search. HappyFares lets you compare fares from Kannur to Gulf and domestic destinations in one place and lock in the best available price for your travel window.

Book Your Flights with HappyFares

Planning a trip to or from Kannur? Head to happyfares.in to compare live fares across Gulf and domestic routes from CNN. Whether you’re flying home for Onam, heading back to Dubai after vacation, or planning a weekend to Bengaluru, you’ll see all available airlines side by side and can book in a few clicks. Schedules and fares change often, so search early and lock in your seats with HappyFares.