The Kerala government Friday got a green signal from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel for its fourth international airport in Kannur.

"... I wish to make it clear that the long standing demand for an airport at Kannur would soon be a reality and there would be no more meetings in this regard," Patel said, speaking at the inaugural function of the launch of the Air-India Express flight from here to Abu Dhabi.

The first discussions for an airport in Kannur began way back in 1996 when then chief minister E.K. Nayanar had mooted the proposal.

He also acquired 200 acres of land on the outskirts of the town.

But civil aviation officials were not too keen for a fourth airport at the time because the Kozhikode airport was just 70 km away.

Besides Kozhikode, Kerala has two other international airports - at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.