Mangalore, October 11: The grant of international status to Mangalore Airport has led to competition among airlines with several prestigious airlines showing keen interest to operate from Mangalore to Gulf countries, said Mangalore Airport Director M R Vasudeva.
Speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Dakshina Kannada district Working Journalists Association and Mangalore Press Club on Thursday, Mr Vasudeva, who is all set to retire later this month, said that Air Arabia, Etihad and Emirates Airlines may extend its air services to the coastal city soon.
“Once those airlines get approval, they will start operations. As a result there will be surge in the passenger traffic by March 2013. More over ticket fares are also expected to be reduced”, he said.
Apart from international flights the number of domestic flights is also expected to increase in the coming days. Jet Airways is expected to commence operation of flights between Mangalore and Mumbai from October 28. SpiceJet will restart its service between Bangalore and Mangalore, he said
ATC
Mr Vasudeva said that an integrated Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and technical block would come up in the Airport by May 2013, at the cost of Rs 19 crore. The tower will stand 24 metres high and will offer the controller a complete 360 degree view of the airport, which will enable to guide the aircrafts with no trouble, he said.
“The new system will not only enhance the safety and security of the Airport but also bring different air control units under one roof. It will house air traffic control, control tower, radar unit and communication unit at one place”, he said.
Passenger Handling
The Director said that the passenger handling at Mangalore airport witnessed four time growth in past 10 years. The Airport was handling 2.77 lakh passengers in 2002, while the current count was estimated at 9, 29,000 passengers. He attributed this growth to Mangalore's connectivity with more locations.
The Indian population in the Middle East constitutes more than one-fourth to the total passenger handling at the Airport, he revealed.
He said the Airport, which incurred a loss of Rs 2.5 crore in 2002, showed operational profit of Rs 80 lakh after commencement of international flights in 2006. This year Mangalore Airport secured a profit of Rs 9.5 crore, and Rs 12.5 crore is the expected profit for 2013, he said.
Reiterating that Mangalore Airport is safe, the Director said it has better facilities compared to Kochi and Kozhikode airports, which do not have Area Control Centre. In fact this unique facility available at Mangalore Airport is used by the pilots to land in those two airports, he said.
Air Cargo Complex
Mr Vasudeva said that the Air Cargo Complex, which has come up at the old terminal building of the Airport is waiting for the approval from the Central Board of Excise and Customs. Once the Air Cargo Complex starts the service, the Airport will witness further development, he added.
The Director, who is all set to retire later this month, was given a warm felicitation by the scribes' body on the occasion.
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