Mangalore air passenger traffic put at 1 million for 2012-13

For the first time in the history of Mangalore airport, the passenger traffic touched a million in 2012-13. The airport handled 1 million passengers in 2012-13 as against 0.87 million in 2011-12, recording a growth of 17.67 per cent during the period.

J.T. Radhakrishna, Director, Airports Authority of India, Mangalore, told Business Line that the airport handled 0.76 million domestic passengers and 0.26 million international passengers during 2012-13.

The increase in the frequency of flights to some key domestic destinations such as Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai has helped in the growth of passenger traffic during the period.

To a query on the passenger growth forecast, Radhakrishna said: “We are expecting more than 10 per cent growth in passenger traffic during the current financial year.”

Operations to a new international destination such as Dammam in the Gulf region began only in January.

Such new services will contribute a significant share to the growth of passenger traffic at the airport, he said.

Air India Express and Jet Airways operate flights from Mangalore to various destinations in the Gulf region.

The airport witnessed 2,642 international aircraft movements and 8,298 domestic aircraft movements during 2012-13.

The airport recorded an operating profit of Rs 16.49 crore during 2012-13 as against Rs 8.79 crore during 2011-12. The total revenue of the airport stood at Rs 50.66 crore (Rs 42.64 crore) and total expenditure at Rs 34.16 crore (Rs 33.84 crore) during the period. The increase in the number of passengers and flights has contributed to the increase in the operating profit of the airport, he added.

>vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in

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