The Hindu Business Line : Mangalore airport completes 2 years of global operations

Two years ago it was an airport catering to the needs of domestic passengers only. Now the Mangalore airport is a mainstay for the international operations from coastal Karnataka with international passengers contributing nearly one-third to the total traffic at the airport.

The first international flight from Dubai landed at the Mangalore airport on October 3, 2006 with the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, receiving the first international flight on that day.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr M.R. Vasudeva, Director, Mangalore Airport, attributed this growth to the addition of new international destinations from Mangalore airport and for increase in the schedules of the existing ones.

In the second year of international operations — between October 2007 and September 2008 – the number of international passengers handled at the airport was nearly one-third of the total traffic.

Passenger traffic

Of the total 5.13 lakh passengers handled during the period, 1.72 lakh were international passengers.

That means nearly one-third of the traffic was contributed by international passengers.

In the first year of international operations — between October 2006 and September 2007 – the number of international passengers handled at the airport was nearly one-fifth of the total passenger traffic.

Of the total 5.05 lakh passengers handled during the period, 1.11 lakh were international passengers.

AIRCRAFT MOVEMENT

The second year of international operations saw increase in the number of international aircraft movement. During the period between October 2007 and September 2008, the airport witnessed 2,200 international aircraft movements as against 720 in the corresponding period of the previous year.

International operation began with six flights a week in October 2006, and there are around 25 flights a week now.

Gulf destinations

Air India Express, which began international service with a thrice-a-week flight to Dubai, is now operating flights to total seven destinations in the Gulf.

They are: Dubai, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Sharjah and Kuwait.

Mr Vasudeva said that the international passengers, who contributed nearly one-third to the total passenger traffic, could reach 40-45 per cent mark, as some of the destinations were added recently and there are demands from passengers from some other destinations in the Gulf.

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Mangalore airport completes 2 years of global operations