New Goa International Airport or North Goa Airport (GOX)
Travelling to Goa is set to become a whole lot easier with the launch of Goa’s second airport, the New Goa International Airport which is nearing its full operational capacity. The current airport serving the state of Goa is the Dabolim Airport, which is also the aviation base for the country’s armed forces. Due to the movement of the Indian Armed Forces, and the increasing pressure of tourism in the state, the infrastructure of Dabolim Airport is working at its full capacity. To release this pressure, and to develop civil aviation in the state, the plan for New Goa International Airport was drafted and passed.
The New Goa Airport, which is in the Mopa village in North Goa is a part of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, where GMR is in charge of constructing it. In August 2022, the first phase of the airport was inaugurated, and it will begin its operations from January 05, 2023. Moreover, other phases of development will expand its capacity gradually. It is being planned that the New Goa Airport will start operating by serving 5 million passengers per annum.Goa, once a Portuguese colony, is now one of the prominent tourist hubs in India. As one of the most happening travel destinations of all seasons, it attracts tourists across the globe. Find all the insider inspiration you need in our Goa destination guide to make every day extraordinary when you get there.
Especially during Christmas and New Year, Goa comes to life with parties and events all across the state. At this time, it witnesses an influx of foreign and Indian tourists. The monsoon in Goa is also something that one should experience.
How to reach North Goa Airport?
- By cabs/taxi services: Airport taxi services are available here, so you can take this service to commute to/ from the airport easily. You can hire running taxis or app-based cabs as well. Pre-booked taxis are one the best means to travel to the airport.
- By railway services: North Goa is well-connected via the railway network as well. Frequent railway service is available here, you can take a train to reach the New Goa Airport.
- By bus: The state bus service is also operational in North Goa. You will find regular buses to the airport, making it easier to commute to/from there.
North Goa Airport details – Pin code, IATA, and address
Being located 35 km from Panjim, this newly built New Goa Airport is situated in Mopa, a village in North Goa. However, travellers can commute from/ to the airport very conveniently.
Address: PVV3+P2G, Mopa Goa – 403512
- IATA code: GOX
- Airport pin code: 403512
Places to visit near New Goa International Airport
Many popular tourist spots are situated in the northern part of Goa, i.e. near the New Goa Airport. Here are some notable ones –
- Baga Beach: It is one of the most famous beaches in Goa. Thousands of visitors, both locals and foreigners, throng it to enjoy parasailing and paragliding. Also, you can opt for banana and bump rides here. Besides, do not forget to relish some great food from the shacks.
- Goa State Museum: In 1977, this museum was set up by the State Archaeological Depart at the famous Adil Shah Palace. There are a wide variety of objects such as stone sculptures, old manuscripts, bronzes, paintings, and artefacts.
- Anjuna Flea Market: This famous market of North Goa opens every Wednesday beside the famous Anjuna Beach. The official time of this market is from 10 am to 4 pm. You will find a wide variety of items starting from clothing to regular household items in this market.
- Dudhsagar Falls: Dudhsagar Falls or the ‘Sea of Milk’ is among the country’s tallest waterfalls. The waterfall gets its name from the fact that when water plummets, it looks like milk full of froth. The waterfall has four tiers and a height of 1017 ft.
- Basilica of Bom Jesus: Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The relics of Saint Francis Xavier have been enshrined here. The construction of the church began in 1595 and it was consecrated by May 1605. The church is known for its rich history and baroque architectural style.
- Vagator Hilltop: When you are visiting Goa, you will not miss out on Vagator Beach. But at the same time, go to the adjacent hilltop for a stunning panoramic view of the beach. For the photography enthusiast in you, this is a place to be, come sunset. Also, do not forget to sample the local food.
- Siolim Riverside Chapel: Talking about places to visit in North Goa, this chapel can be a great place. This riverside chapel is not overburdened with tourists, and you will mostly meet the locals here. So you can spend some time in the serenity of this place and enjoy nature.
- Chapora Fort: This is the place where the iconic movie ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ was shot, making it a popular tourist destination. The evening is the best time to visit this place to experience spectacular views of the sunset overlooking the scenic Chapora River.
- Panjim: With its cobbled lanes, old taverns, brightly painted houses, churches, and mansions, Panjim has the ambience of a little Mediterranean town. This city showcases grand Portuguese architecture and contains heritage areas that coexist with its modern buildings. Panjim is a city that one must explore while in Goa on the banks of the Mandovi River.
- Fort Aguada: The historic Fort Aguada and its adjacent lighthouse are popular destinations among tourists. It is a 17th-century Portuguese Fort standing on Sinquerim Beach overlooking the beautiful Arabian Sea. Aguada Fort, erected in 1612, encircling the entire peninsula at the southwestern extremity of the Bardez Taluka in North Goa, is known for being the first lighthouse in Asia.
Dabolim Airport South Goa
Dabolim Airport is perhaps more well known as Goa International Airport as it is currently the only international airport in the Indian state of Goa. It is a civil enclave located in an Indian Navy air base called INS Hansa situated in the town of Dabolim, approximately 5/3.1 km from the city of Vasco Da Gama and about 30 km from the state capital of Panjim/Panaji.
The state of Goa is divided into North and South Goa and the airport is located on the coast side in South Goa, just south of North Goa.
The airport was built in 1955 by the Government of the Estado da India Portuguesa as the Aeroporto de Dabolim. In December of 1961, during the Annexation of Goa, the Indian Air Force bombarded the airport and parts of the infrastructure were destroyed and in April of 1962 it was occupied by the Indian Navy.
The airport is now owned by the Government of Goa and Indian Navy and it is operated by Airports Authority of India.
Eventually, once the runway was repaired and jet-enabled in 1966, the airport authorities invited the public airline sector to use the airport for civilian air travel.
A new domestic terminal was built in 1983 and an international terminal in 1996.
An upgrade plan was announced in 2006 involving the construction of a new internal passenger terminal, but was delayed due to the transfer of the required land needed from the Navy, and though it originally was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007 it wasn’t inaugurated until December of 2013.
Because the airport is located on Navy grounds there are flight restrictions for the purpose of military flight training creating a large concentration of civilian traffic between 1.00 PM and 9.00 PM. Many of the flights here are charter flights during the high peak season stretching from November to May.
An upgraded taxiway was completed late 2019 raising the runway capacity from 15 to 18-20 air traffic movements per hour.
The airport has one single runway with asphalt surface measuring 3,430 m/11,253 ft in length.
The passenger terminal that opened in December of 2013 handles both domestic and international flights and is designed to cater to five million passengers annually. It has 75 check-in counters, 14 security check booths and eight customs counters as well as 22 immigration counters for departures and 18 for arrivals.
The airport served more than 8,000,000 passengers in 2019 and 2,890,545 in 2020. The decrease was due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Because the space is limited at the airport and the demands for flights to and from Goa are in high-demand a new international airport located in Mopa, approximately 60 km/37 mi from Goa Airport, is under construction, planned to open in 2022.