Dabolim Airport

Dabolim Airport (IATA: GOI, ICAO: VAGO) is the only regional airport and international state of Goa in India. Since the invasion of Goa, it has been a military air base, also open to civilian traffic. The airport was built by the Government-General of Portuguese India and opened in 1951.

Its construction was part of the plan for development of airport facilities of Goa, Daman and Diu, in order to enable these areas to improve their aeronautical communications and thus contravening the lock that they were being subjected to by the authorities of the Indiana.

The airport became the main base of the TAIP – Air Transport of Portuguese India, the airline created at the same time. In the Indian invasion of Goa in December 1961, the airport was heavily bombed by the Indian Air Force, leaving the track and other infrastructure seriously damaged. In 1962 the airport was occupied by the Indian Navy, which used as a military base.

Dabolim Airport is popular for many of the European low cost airlines such as Monarch Airlines and Arkefly who bring increasing numbers of tourists to the resorts of Goa and the surrounding area. The airport also has excellent connections to other airports of India through flights offered by Kingfisher Airlines, GoAir and Indian Airlines.