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Structural work in progress for the new terminal building at Mangalore airport.

A. J. Vinayak

The beginning of 2009 is likely to provide another facility to the civil aviation infrastructure Mangalore. The new integrated terminal building, being built at Kenjar, near the city, is likely to become operational in the first quarter of 2009.

The new facility is expected to provide increased avenues for exploring the potential in various sectors of the air transport system in the region. Representatives from trade and industry and non-resident Indians feel that potential exists in areas such as air-cargo handling and operation of flights to various international destinations. (At present, Air India Express connects Mangalore airport with Gulf destinations such as Dubai, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Sharjah and Kuwait.)

However, it is essential for the airport to get an international airport status to explore the full potential of the new terminal building. At present, the airport has Customs airport status for passenger movement.

Mr Srinivas S. Kamath, President of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), told Business Line that the new terminal building would provide enough business opportunities in various sectors. At present, the operation of international flights is limited to some Gulf countries alone. He felt that there is good potential for operation of flights once a week to some other major international destinations. Operations to Malaysia and Singapore can also be thought of.

According to Mr Rajesh Sequera, Co-ordinator of the Abu Dhabi-based Karnataka NRI Forum, there are also demands for operating flights to other Gulf centres such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

The airport, which has completed two years of international operations, has seen a good growth in both passenger and aircraft movements during the period. Most flights to the Gulf sector are flying full every time. International airport status would help bring many more international airlines to Mangalore airport and serve passengers better, Mr Sequera said.

Mr Kamath said that there is also scope for exploring increased air cargo movement from the region. The region, which has good potential for generating air cargo, is sending most of such cargoes through the neighbouring airports.

The present terminal building can be converted into a dedicated air-cargo complex, once the new terminal building is put into operation. To begin with, handling perishable goods like vegetables and flowers can be planned. A sizeable number of people from coastal Karnataka, who are residing in Gulf countries, would provide a large customer base for such produce.

Since the region has a number of medical colleges and hospitals, medical tourism can also be widely advertised as one of the USPs of the new facility. The new terminal building would also likely attract specially chartered flights to the region.

Mr L. L. Krishnan, Regional Executive Director (Southern Region), Airports Authority of India (AAI), who was in Mangalore recently, told Business Line that nearly 70 per cent of the work on the new integrated terminal building is complete, and construction of the major structures is over. The terminal building is being built at a cost of Rs 147 crore.

Built on 18,200 square metres of area, the project includes terminal building with two aerobridges, apron and taxiways.

Though the global economic slowdown has hit the aviation sector hard, Mangalore airport has not been affected by it. With the existing terminal building, it has been able to connect to seven destinations in the Gulf region. Mr M. R. Vasudeva, Director, Mangalore Airport, said that international traffic has not been affected by the current global slowdown, and there is good demand from passengers for Gulf-bound flights.

More Stories on : Outlook | Airlines | Karnataka

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