Zero Airport

Zero Airport^[4] or Ziro Airport (IATA: ZER, ICAO: VEZO) is a domestic airport and an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) of the Indian Air Force, serving the city of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India. In the past, Vayudoot and Air India operated daily flights to the airport. Now, Alliance Air operates flights to and from the airport.^[5]

Ziro Airport
IATA: ZER ICAO: VEZO
Summary
Airport type	Military/Public
Operator	Airports Authority of India
Serves	Ziro
Location	Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Elevation AMSL	1,590 m / 5,216 ft
Coordinates	27°35′18″N 093°49′41″E / 27.58833°N 93.82806°E / 27.58833; 93.82806
Website	Zero Airport
Map
ZER Show map of Arunachal Pradesh ZER Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 18/36 1,195 3,920 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 – March 2024)
Passengers 299 ( 65.2%) Aircraft movements 122 ( 204.9%) Cargo tonnage —
Source: AAI^[1]^[2]^[3]

History

The airport was originally built as an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) for the Indian Air Force for military operations, exercises and emergency operations, which later, was also used alongside the Air Force by private and government aircraft. To improve connectivity, tourism and development in the Ziro Valley, a pre-feasibility study was conducted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for improving the airport to enable ATR-42 class aircraft in 2008. The study found it unfeasible to extend the 1,220 metre runway to accommodate a 50-seater aircraft, due to unauthorized constructions along the boundary wall. It was proposed that a new runway measuring 2010 metres be built on land adjacent to the current runway and all airport structures, like the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, the fire station and the terminal building be relocated.^[6] Commercial flight services were provided by Vayudoot, Air India and sometimes by the Indian Air Force, but that did not last for long and were indefinitely stopped. In October 2022, Alliance Air resumed passenger services from the airport to Dibrugarh and North Lakhimpur, both in Assam.^[7][8]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations	Refs.
Alliance Air	Dibrugarh, Itanagar^[9]	^[10]

References

1. "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
2. "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
3. "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
4. Zero Airport, official name as per Airports Authority of India
5. "Arunachal: Pema Khandu flags off commercial passenger flight to Ziro". Arunachal24.in. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
6. "PM's Economic Package for arunachal pradesh 2008" (PDF). Arunachal PWD. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
7. "Alliance Air to launch flights to Ziro from 30 October 2022". Alliance Air. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
8. "Arunachal: Pema Khandu flags off commercial passenger flight to Ziro". Arunachal24.in. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
9. Joshi, Gaurav (1 December 2022). "Alliance Air Starts New Routes In Northeast India". Simple Flying. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
10. "Arunachal: Pema Khandu flags off commercial passenger flight to Ziro". Arunachal24.in. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.

External links

• Airport information for VEZO at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
• Accident history for ZER: Ziro Airport at Aviation Safety Network