Karnal is a city on the Grand Trunk Road in northern Haryana — the seat of a district that has given India its White Revolution credentials as the Milk City of India, home to the National Dairy Research Institute since 1955. It sits approximately 130 kilometres north of Delhi and 50 kilometres south of Ambala, placed squarely on the Punjab–Delhi transport corridor. Karnal Aerodrome, three kilometres east of the city, has been a flying club and pilot training centre since 1967, operating under the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation. ICAO code VI40 is assigned; no IATA code exists. Commercial flights have been discussed, planned, and approved in principle since 2012 — but have never commenced. As of mid-2026, the aerodrome functions as a flying training organization and general aviation facility, not a commercial passenger airport.
Quick Overview: Karnal Aerodrome
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Karnal Aerodrome / Karnal Flying Club |
| Location | ~3 km east of Karnal, Haryana |
| Airport Type | Public — Flying Training / General Aviation |
| IATA Code | Not Assigned |
| ICAO Code | VI40 |
| Owner | Civil Aviation Department, Government of Haryana |
| Operator | Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA) |
| Website | haraviation.gov.in |
| Land Area | ~104 acres |
| Runway Designation | 13/31 (asphalt surface) |
| Runway Length | ~3,000 ft / ~917 metres (original); approved for extension to 4,500 ft |
| Elevation | 253.51 m / 829 ft AMSL |
| Coordinates | 29°42′51″N, 77°02′15″E |
| Established | 1967 |
| Primary Use | CPL/PPL/SPL pilot training; VIP charter; general aviation |
| Scheduled Commercial Flights | None (as of mid-2026) |
| State Government Subsidy | Available for Haryana domicile students for pilot training |
Karnal Aerodrome Location: Three Kilometres East of the Milk City
Karnal Aerodrome is located approximately 3 kilometres east of Karnal city, in a flat agricultural belt typical of the upper Gangetic plain in northern Haryana. Coordinates are 29°42′51″N, 77°02′15″E, at an elevation of 253.51 metres above mean sea level. The 104-acre airfield sits at the fringe of the city’s eastern expansion zone.
Karnal’s significance in Haryana’s geography is considerable for a district headquarters. The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) here is the premier dairy science institution in India. The Kalpana Chawla Medical College is named after the astronaut who was born in Karnal. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) training centre and the Haryana Agricultural University’s regional campus add to an institutional profile that generates regular VIP and government aviation movements — partly explaining why the aerodrome has served as a government charter and VIP helicopter base alongside its flying club function.
The aerodrome is well-positioned relative to two important contexts. First, the Delhi–Amritsar NH-44 passes through Karnal, giving excellent road access for anyone travelling from the corridor. Second, Karnal lies between two military aviation assets — Ambala Air Force Station (approximately 50 km north) and IGI Delhi (approximately 130 km south) — meaning commercial aviation has never found a compelling gap to fill here, which partly explains the long developmental stall.
Karnal Aerodrome Code: ICAO VI40 — No IATA Code
Karnal Aerodrome carries the ICAO code VI40. No IATA code has been assigned. VI40 is an informal/pseudo-ICAO designator used in pilot navigation databases and the India AIP rather than a standard four-letter ICAO code — reflecting the aerodrome’s status as a non-commercial facility below the threshold of full ICAO registration. No METAR weather data is published from Karnal; pilots reference nearby weather stations. The Flight Information Region for Karnal is Delhi FIR.
Karnal Aerodrome Terminal: Flying Club and Pilot Training Infrastructure
Karnal Aerodrome does not have a passenger terminal for public commercial use. The facility’s built infrastructure serves its flying training mission — the Karnal Aviation Club, a base of the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation, operates from this site offering training for the following licences issued by DGCA: Student Pilot Licence (SPL), Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), and Glider Pilot Licence.
The runway is 3,000 feet (approximately 917 metres) long and 150 feet wide, asphalt-surfaced, oriented at 13/31. This runway length is well below the minimum required for most UDAN-scheme turboprop commercial operations and was the primary infrastructure constraint when commercial development was under discussion. In 2012, the DGCA approved Haryana state government plans to develop the aerodrome for domestic passenger services. The expansion blueprint called for runway extension to 4,500 feet — the minimum for turboprop commercial aircraft of the Cessna Caravan or similar class. This approval was announced in August 2013 but the runway extension was never executed.
The Haryana government included Karnal in a 2023 tender inviting Expression of Interest from Flight Training Organisations (FTOs) to operate at Bhiwani, Narnaul, Hisar, Pinjore, and Karnal — confirming the aerodrome’s continuing role in pilot training rather than commercial aviation.
The Government of Haryana provides a subsidy on pilot training fees for Haryana-domicile applicants at HICA facilities including Karnal. Applicants must hold a Haryana Domicile Certificate to access the subsidised rate — a deliberate policy to increase the proportion of Haryana-origin pilots in India’s aviation workforce.
Karnal Aerodrome Connectivity: No Commercial Flights; VIP and Charter Use
By Air: No scheduled commercial passenger flights operate from Karnal Aerodrome as of mid-2026. The facility handles VIP and government charter movements, general aviation by private pilots, and HICA flying training operations. Haryana government VIP helicopters use the aerodrome as a staging base for official visits to Karnal district.
By Road: Karnal city is exceptionally well-connected by road. NH-44 (Delhi–Amritsar) passes through Karnal. Delhi is approximately 130 km south — around 2 to 2.5 hours. Ambala is approximately 50 km north. Panipat is approximately 50 km south. The Grand Trunk Road corridor makes Karnal one of the more accessible mid-distance cities from Delhi for road travel.
By Rail: Karnal Railway Station is on the Delhi–Ambala–Amritsar main line of the Northern Railway, one of the busiest intercity rail corridors in India. Trains to Delhi take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours; Ambala is 40 to 50 minutes. Rail is overwhelmingly the dominant inter-city transport mode for Karnal.
Nearest Commercial Airport: Ambala Domestic Airport (AMI) — when operational — at approximately 50 km north will be the nearest with commercial scheduled service. Currently, Chandigarh Airport (IXC) at approximately 70 km and IGI Delhi (DEL) at approximately 130 km are the nearest operational commercial options.
Karnal Aerodrome Amenities: Flying Training Facility, No Public Passenger Services
There are no public passenger amenities at Karnal Aerodrome. The facility serves student pilots, training instructors, and HICA staff. Aircraft hangars, training classrooms, and administrative infrastructure support the flying club’s operations. VIP and government charter passengers use basic airside access facilities rather than a dedicated terminal.
General aviation pilots using Karnal for transit, fuel, or training purposes access the aerodrome through the standard GA framework applicable to HICA-operated airfields in Haryana.
FAQs: Karnal Aerodrome
Q1. Does Karnal Aerodrome have an IATA code?
A: No. Karnal Aerodrome carries only the ICAO designator VI40, which is an informal pseudo-code rather than a standard four-letter ICAO registration. No IATA code has been assigned.
Q2. Are there commercial flights from Karnal Aerodrome?
A: No. The aerodrome operates exclusively as a pilot training and general aviation facility. Commercial passenger services were approved in principle in 2012–13 but never commenced due to the runway being too short and expansion not proceeding.
Q3. What pilot licences can be trained for at Karnal Aerodrome?
A: The Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA) offers training at Karnal for Student Pilot Licence (SPL), Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), and Glider Pilot Licence. Haryana-domicile students are eligible for a government subsidy on training fees.
Q4. What is the runway length at Karnal Aerodrome?
A: The runway is approximately 3,000 feet (917 metres) long — well below the minimum for most commercial turboprop operations. A planned extension to 4,500 feet was approved in 2013 but not executed as of mid-2026.
Q5. What is the nearest commercial airport to Karnal?
A: Chandigarh Airport (IXC, approximately 70 km) is the nearest currently operational commercial airport. Ambala Domestic Airport (AMI), when inaugurated, will reduce that distance to approximately 50 km.
