The Hindu Business Line : Intl services begin at Mangalore airport

The details Mangalore airport has become the second airport in Karnataka to operate flights to international destinations after Bangalore. AAI has signed a MoU with the Karnataka Government to develop Mysore airport.

THE UNION CIVIL Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, inaugurating the new integrated terminal building of Mangalore airport on Tuesday. Mr Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister of State; Mr B.S. Yediyurappa, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka; and Mr M. Veerappa Moily, Chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission, are also seen. — R. Eswarraj

Mangalore , Oct. 3

Operation of international flights from Mangalore, especially to West Asia, began with the arrival of 185 passengers on board the Dubai-Mangalore flight of Air India Express in Mangalore on Tuesday.

With this, Mangalore airport has become the second airport in Karnataka to operate flights to international destinations, after Bangalore.

The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel — who laid the foundation stone for the new integrated terminal building and received the inaugural international flight at Mangalore airport — stressed the need for upgrading aviation infrastructure in the country.

Aviation grid

Stating that the country has nearly 400 airports, including the small ones and the unused ones, he said, "We can make an aviation grid for the future on the lines of power grid and telecom grid."

Finance is a not a constraint for the improvement of aviation infrastructure in the country. The respective state governments should support the Union Government's initiatives of improving aviation infrastructure by providing lands for the projects concerned.

Earlier, railway networks and road infrastructure were the determining factors for the economic growth of any region. "Now, wherever there is airport, economic development will follow. Now competition in aviation sector has given choice to people." In three to four years time, 35 non-metro airports will be upgraded, apart from metro airports.

Referring to Karnataka , he said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will take up development of Belgaum and Hubli airports. AAI has signed a MoU with the State Government to develop Mysore airport, and is looking at having MoUs with regard to Gulbarga and Hassan airports.

Stressing the need for developing intra-State aviation services, he said this would pave way for the economic development of the State.

Looking at the growth in traffic at Bangalore, phase two of Bangalore international airport project has been merged with phase one. Phase two was to be completed by 2020, keeping in mind the traffic during that year. That traffic is now expected at 2009 itself, he said.

More flights

He said more flights would be operated from Mangalore to international destinations in due course of time. "Apart from national carriers, other airlines will operate flights to international destinations from Mangalore." The Mangalore-Dubai flight, which has been scheduled to operate thrice a week from Mangalore, will operate all seven days in due course of time, he said.

Mr Patel said the new integrated terminal would be one of the most modern terminal buildings in the country with two aerobridges and associated facilities. The terminal building complex will be capable of handling one million passengers per annum. The Rs 147-crore building will be completed in 24 months, he added.

Mr Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister of State, Mr B.S. Yediyurappa, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Dr K. Ramalingam, AAI Chairman, and Mr Thulasidas, Chairman of Air India, were present on the occasion.