The Hindu Business Line : Chennai most profitable airport in South in '05-06

Major losers
Mangalore reported the highest loss of Rs 11.14 crore
Tiruchi posted Rs 4.57 crore loss
Madurai reported Rs 4.54 crore loss

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New Delhi Feb. 19 Chennai airport has proved to be a money-spinner for the Airports Authority of India from among the 21 airports run by it in South India during 2005-06.

The latest official data shows that the airport reported a profit of Rs 191.61 crore during the year under review

Bangalore was the second most profitable airport in South India having reported a profit of Rs 121.05 crore, while Hyderabad occupied the number three spot with a profit of Rs 73.27 crore. The other airports reporting a profit include Cochin International Airport Ltd (Rs 20.75 crore), Kozhikode (Rs 14.04 crore) and Thiruvananthapuram (Rs 2.65 crore).

All the other airports in the region reported a loss during the year under review. Mangalore reported the highest loss of Rs 11.14 crore followed by Tiruchi at Rs 4.57 crore and Madurai at Rs 4.54 crore.

Similarly, Vijayawada reported a loss of Rs 3.76 crore, Agatti (Rs -1.73 crore), Hubli (Rs -1.28 crore), Rajamundry (Rs -62.38 lakh), Tuticorin (Rs -31.69 lakh), Salem (Rs -25.08 lakh) and Vellore (Rs -6.88 lakh).

The southern region that handled 22.24 million passengers accounted for almost 30 per cent of the total traffic handled by all Indian airports during 2005-06.

Despite the losses being reported by the airports, airlines are increasing the number of scheduled flights being operated to and from airports in South India.

The number of weekly departure is to increase by almost 27 per cent and touch 3,700 flights a week in the next few months from the current levels of about 2,900 flights a week, senior Government officials said.