Kanpur is Uttar Pradesh’s industrial capital — the leather goods manufacturing hub that exports to global fashion houses, a significant chemicals and textile production zone, the location of IIT Kanpur (one of India’s premier engineering institutions), and the city of the historic Kanpur Massacre of 1857 that defined the Mutiny’s brutality. For a city of over 3 million people that is the state’s largest by population, Kanpur’s aviation history has been erratic. Kanpur Airport at Chakeri — IATA code KNU, ICAO code VECX — is a civil enclave at Chakeri Air Force Station, inaugurated for commercial operations on 7 June 2023 after years of dormancy and stalled revival attempts. IndiGo operates the dominant network from here, connecting Kanpur to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and other cities. It handled 3,22,252 passengers in 2024–25, a 13.3% increase, and has been proposed for renaming as Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Airport after the nationalist journalist-politician from Kanpur.
Quick Overview: Kanpur Airport
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Kanpur Airport (also: Chakeri Airport; proposed: Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Airport) |
| Location | Chakeri, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Airport Type | Military/Public — Domestic (civil enclave at Chakeri IAF Station) |
| IATA Code | KNU |
| ICAO Code | VECX |
| Owner/Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| Commercial Operations | 7 June 2023 (current era; flights by IndiGo) |
| Key Ceremony | Inaugurated 26 May 2023 (CM Yogi Adityanath, Union Ministers) |
| Proposed Rename | Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Airport (not yet confirmed) |
| Elevation | 126 m / 410 ft AMSL |
| Coordinates | 26°23′58″N, 80°25′37″E |
| Distance from City Centre | ~15 km |
| Passengers (2024–25) | 3,22,252 (+13.3% YoY) |
| Aircraft Movements (2024–25) | 2,210 (+5.8% YoY) |
| Cargo Tonnage (2024–25) | 116 tonnes (+9.1% YoY) |
| Airlines | IndiGo, Air India Express |
| Active Routes | Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata |
Kanpur Airport Location: Chakeri on the City’s Eastern Side
Kanpur Airport is located at Chakeri, approximately 15 km from Kanpur city centre. The coordinates are 26°23′58″N, 80°25′37″E, at an elevation of 126 metres — the Gangetic plain terrain of central Uttar Pradesh. Chakeri Air Force Station has been operational for decades; the civilian enclave was developed on a portion of the base perimeter.
Kanpur’s industrial geography — leather tanneries, chemical plants, and the CSJM University and IIT Kanpur campuses — creates sustained business aviation demand. Nana Rao Park (Nana Sahib’s headquarters during 1857), the All Souls Cathedral (British colonial heritage), and Kanpur’s distinctive Mughal-era ghats on the Ganga are the primary heritage attractions, approximately 15 km from the airport.
Lucknow is approximately 80 km east of Kanpur — the two cities function as a paired urban corridor in western UP.
Code, Terminal and Commercial Era
IATA KNU and ICAO VECX are the formal codes. Commercial aviation at Chakeri has had multiple revival attempts. IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India Regional attempted services at various points before the current 2023 era. The June 2023 restart has been the most commercially durable, driven by consistent IndiGo frequency building.
IndiGo connects Kanpur to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata — a comprehensive network for a city of Kanpur’s size. Air India Express serves selected routes. The 13.3% growth in passengers and 5.8% aircraft movement increase in 2024–25 reflect steady but not spectacular expansion. Cargo tonnage of 116 tonnes grew 9.1% — modest but present, reflecting Kanpur’s leather export community beginning to use the airport.
Connectivity and Amenities
By Air: IndiGo (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata) and Air India Express operate from KNU. Confirm current schedules before booking.
By Road: City centre is ~15 km (30 to 40 minutes). Lucknow is ~80 km east (1.5 hours on NH-27). Agra is ~285 km west (4.5 hours). Local taxis, Ola, and Uber serve the airport.
By Rail: Kanpur Central Railway Station is approximately 15 km from the airport — one of India’s busiest stations on the Delhi-Howrah mainline with trains to Delhi (~4 hours by Shatabdi), Lucknow (~1 hour), and major cities.
Amenities: Check-in counters, security screening, departure lounge with seating and food counters, ATMs, restrooms, trolleys. Basic UDAN-era IAF civil enclave terminal. Arrive 90 minutes before departure.
FAQs: Kanpur Airport
Q1. What is the IATA code for Kanpur Airport?
KNU is the IATA code and VECX is the ICAO code. The airport is at Chakeri, approximately 15 km from Kanpur city, operated by AAI as a civil enclave at Chakeri IAF Station.
Q2. When did commercial flights restart at Kanpur Airport?
Flights began on 7 June 2023 in the current era, after a ceremony on 26 May 2023 attended by CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Q3. Who was Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi after whom the airport is proposed to be renamed?
Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi (1890–1931) was a Kanpur-born nationalist journalist, editor of the Pratap newspaper, and INC leader who was killed during the 1931 Kanpur communal riots while trying to protect victims. He is considered a martyr of secular nationalism.
Q4. Which airlines and routes serve Kanpur Airport?
IndiGo serves Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. Air India Express serves selected routes. Confirm current schedules before booking.
Q5. How far is IIT Kanpur from the airport?
IIT Kanpur is approximately 18 to 20 km from Chakeri Airport — about 30 to 40 minutes by road. The airport is the practical air entry for IIT Kanpur’s faculty, students, and visiting professionals.
