The Hindu Business Line : International flights from Mangalore to West Asia soon

The first international flight from Mangalore airport to West Asia is likely to take off from May 21, if the decisions arrived at a high-level meeting on operating international flights are any indications.

A high-level meeting convened by the Karnataka Principal Secretary (Home Affairs), Mr Sudhakar Rao, here on Thursday discussed various issues relating to providing immigration facilities at the airport.

Immigration facilities

Mr N. Yogish Bhat, Mangalore MLA, who attended the meeting, told Business Line that the long-pending demand of non-resident Indians in West Asia might come true on May 21, as the high-level meeting convened in this regard arrived at positive decisions on some of the issues.

He said the Karnataka Principal Secretary has agreed to provide immigration facilities at the airport once the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is ready to operate international flights from Mangalore.

Mr Bhat said that AAI has promised to provide infrastructure at the airport, and the State Government and Union Government officials have agreed to extend their co-operation for the operation of international flights from Mangalore.

Speaking to presspersons earlier, Mr Sudhakar Rao said, "Immigration facility will be given at the airport once the AAI is ready to start operation of international flights from Mangalore.

"Personnel from the Police Department will be sent for training from Friday (February 28) to handle immigration-related activities. However, there will be no compromise with security at the airport."

Air India Express, which wants to operate a flight to West Asia from Mangalore, requires at least 15 days to notify the schedule and take up promotional activities.

Passenger traffic

It may be mentioned here that industry bodies and NRIs are seeking operation of international flights from Mangalore at the earliest citing reasons of passenger inflow. Nearly 30 per cent of the passenger traffic from Mangalore airport is bound for international destinations. The second runway is ready for commissioning.

Mr M.R. Vasudeva, Airport Director, AAI; Mr Raghavendra Auradkar, Inspector-General of Police, Intelligence (Security); Mr Manuskar Rao, Joint Commissioner, Customs; Dr H.V. Parswanath, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner; Mr B. Dayananda, Superintendent of Police; and Mr A. Srinivasa Rao, President of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attended the meeting.

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