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A.J. Vinayak

The year-old operation of international flights from Mangalore is now piloting the airport’s growth. It is not a small matter for an airport like Mangalore to handle more than one lakh international passengers in one year.

Mangalore airport’s major customers for international operations are those from the area — districts in coastal Karnataka, Malnad area and northern Kerala — who are now residing in Gulf countries.

Till October 3, 2006, people from this region were dependent on the neighbouring international airports for their onward journey to the Gulf countries; and reaching these airports was both time- and money-consuming.

The Airport Authority of India’s (AAI) decision to construct a new runway at the Mangalore airport has been instrumental in scripting the airport’s growth story. The airport, which was established in 1951, was upgraded to handle Boeing 737 in 1983. Though the need for the second runway was realised in 1989, and the AAI had deposited Rs 50 lakh with the Karnataka Government, it did not make much headway. However, work on the construction of the runway began in 2004 and it was commissioned in May 2006.

After declaring the airport as a Customs aerodrome on May 3, 2006, for handling passenger bags, the airport was ready for handling international flights. The international operation of flights, which began from Mangalore on October 3, 2006, proved to be a major step for the airport’s growth story.

In one year, the airport handled nearly 1.08 lakh international passengers. Consequently, the airport recorded a maiden profit of Rs 83 lakh during 2006-07, as against a loss of Rs 2.8 crore during the previous financial year.

Though the international operation began with six flights a week in October 2006, there are 24 flights a week now. Air India Express, which began international service from Mangalore with a thrice-a-week flight to Dubai, is now operating flights to Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Doha. Now there are daily flights to Dubai from Mangalore.

Besides, passengers from Kuwait, Dammam and Salalah are also seeking direct flights from Mangalore. If that materialises, then Mangalore will be connected with most of the airports in the Gulf.

The airport, which has been declared as a customs aerodrome for handling passenger bags and baggage, is yet to be declared a customs airport for cargo handling. The local trade and industry bodies see good potential for cargo handling at the airport.

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry feels that the region, which can generate around three to five tonnes of air cargo a day, will be in a position to export 150 tonnes of air cargo a day by 2011-12. In such a situation, an air cargo complex at the airport will boost the export of horticulture, vegetables and agro-based products from the region. Traders feel that fruits and vegetables can contribute significantly to the air cargo from the region, as many Indian restaurants in Gulf countries import these commodities from India.

As many people from the region undertake Haj pilgrimage every year, there is also scope for operating flights for this purpose. The Gulf-based Karnataka NRI Forum feels that there is a need for direct flights for Haj passengers. The forum is hopeful of having such flights for the Haj pilgrimage from next year.

Tourism promotion in the region can get a boost, if the tourism department and the Karnataka Government put in efforts to attract chartered flights to Mangalore. Chartered flight traffic is missing in Mangalore, despite the region’s immense tourism potential. While neighbouring Goa attracts nearly 600 chartered flights a year, diversion of at least 10 per cent of the international chartered flights to Mangalore could add a significant number for the region’s international traffic growth.

Anticipating further growth in domestic and international traffic at the airport, the AAI has decided to construct a new terminal building. The building, which will be built on 18,200 sq metres, will reduce the distance between the city and the airport by eight km.

To be built at a cost of Rs 147 crore, the building is likely to be ready by 2009. The new terminal building can handle 500 passengers at a time (250 arrivals and 250 departures). Two aerobridges and four parking bays have been planned at the new building.

Mangalore, the second international airport in Karnataka after Bangalore handling international traffic, needs more attention as far as other development works are concerned. With trade and industry expecting huge investments and growth in the region in the near future, and NRIs seeking more connectivity, a full-fledged international airport may prove as much a boon to travellers as economically wise.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Airlines | Karnataka

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