Prepaid / official airport taxi · 25–35 min to centre
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
CCJ7.2
CJB7.3+0.1
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
CCJ6.4+0.5
CJB5.9
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
CCJ6.0+0.2
CJB5.8
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
CCJ6.4
CJB7.3+0.9
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
CCJ5.4
CJB6.1+0.7
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
CCJ6.2+2.0
CJB4.2
Best for
CCJ
Gulf / West Asia corridor trips into Kozhikode and the Malabar hinterlandAir India Express base banks when the ticket matches tonight’s FIDSInternational passengers with an eligible Indian card for Bird LoungeEnrolled Indian / OCI travellers using FTI-TTP e-gates
CJB
Kongu Nadu / western Tamil Nadu trips that want the local AAI airport instead of a Chennai connectionPriority Pass / LoungeKey holders who can use BlackBerry as a daytime set-menu stop (10:00–21:30)Domestic DigiYatra users who value a short Peelamedu–centre road transfer
Watch out for
CCJ
Tabletop runway 10/28 with 2,700 m declared distances — trust today’s A321-class metalSaudi-route cancellations and pauses in Oct 2026; no Priority Pass lounge at allNo terminal metro / rail — eAIP is 28 km from Calicut Railway StationDo not confuse CCJ with COK / CNN / TRV, and do not swap AAI international / domestic annexes
CJB
No terminal metro or rail — Coimbatore Junction is a separate 9 km road transferLive product is a restaurant programme, not a soft lounge — DragonPass closes 30 minutes earlier than Priority Pass / LoungeKeySingle 05/23 runway (2,990 × 45 m, ILS CAT I on 23 only) and SHA works through December 2026 can stack delays at peak IndiGo banksCJB ≠ MAA ≠ TRZ — wrong Tamil Nadu IATA is a multi-hour road day
CCJ · Malabar’s AAI Karipur Gulf gateway: 2.92 million of 3.86 million FY 2025–26 passengers are international, Air India Express is based here, Bird Lounge serves international airside through Indian card programmes, and prepaid taxis cover the 28 km hop from Calicut Railway Station. Trade-offs: a tabletop 10/28 strip, A321-class aircraft, no Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass lounge, and Saudi-route cancellations in October 2026.
CJB · AAI-run Peelamedu gateway — one compact integrated terminal already near its 3.63 million design capacity, DigiYatra on domestic flows since Aug 2024, a short road hop into Kongu Nadu’s textile city, and a restaurant-programme pin (Priority Pass / LoungeKey 10:00–21:30; DragonPass 10:00–21:00) instead of a soft lounge — still a single 2,990 × 45 m strip where monsoon banks and SHA works through December 2026 punish thin plans.
