India, Aug. 26 -- As Kerala celebrates Onam, the story of Thiruvananthapuram's airport offers a fascinating glimpse into the state's royal past and how an old legacy continues to shape modern infrastructure. The story traces back to the erstwhile Travancore kingdom and the land on which Thiruvananthapuram International Airport stands today. Long before commercial aviation became part of everyday life, the Travancore royal family was closely associated with the development of aviation in the region.

Reports quote court records as showing that 258.06 acres of land were handed over by the Maharaja of Travancore to the flying club for the development of the airport. Another 329.68 acres were subsequently acquired by the Airports Authority of...