Sunday, July 30, 2006

Mangalore: KIOCL Hands Over its Hangar at Bajpe Airport to AAI

Raviprasad Kamila / The Hindu
AAI is awaiting the Customs authority’s decision to declare the airport fit for handling cargo
Good potential for export of perishable and non-perishable goods from Mangalore region
AAI to use the hangar exclusively for its cargo operations AAI to use it exclusively for cargo operations
Mangalore, Jul 31: The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) has handed over its hangar at the Mangalore (Bajpe) airport to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), according to sources in Bajpe airport.
The company was using the hangar for stationing its helicopter that has been shifted now. Sources said that the Airports Authority of India would use the hangar structure exclusively for handling cargo operations.
Till recently there was no suitable place in the airport for handling cargo.
At present the customs authorities have permitted the handling of baggage at the airport but have not declared the airport fully fit for handling cargo.
Airports Authority of India has reserved the hangar for handling cargo but is awaiting the customs authority’s decision to declare the airport fit for handling cargo, sources said.
According to sources, a requisition from exporters and importers will enable Airports Authority of India to provide the facilities required by the exporters and importers.
The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) might convene a meeting of exporters and importers to consider their requirements at the airport for handling cargo. The KCCI has a greater role to play to convince the customs authorities on the need to declare the airport fit for cargo operation considering potential for export of perishable and non-perishable goods from the Mangalore region.
There is also scope for the air transportation of cargo in the domestic sector.
In the perishable commodity segment there is immense potential for the export of "Mangalore jasmine'' and "Shankarapura jasmine'' to West Asia.
The Mangalore Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) and Information Technology Park that are coming up in Mangalore would open up the potential for exports and imports through air route, sources said.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Mangalore: SP Dayananda Inaugurates Gym at Airport Housing Complex

















Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB) - Pic Geekay
Mangalore, Jul 27: Any institution or organization must provide suitable basic facilities like housing and children's education to its employees. In this direction, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had done a commendable job in providing its staff with residential quarters, a gymnasium etc., said DK's superintendent of police B Dayananda on Wednesday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the new gymnasium set up in the new residential colony of the AAI at Bajpe.
He also hoped that all employees of the AAI would be provided with housing very soon.
Airport director M R Vasudeva detailed the facilities provided like housing, computer and the Internet.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

New Delhi :Aviation Minister Briefs Rajya Sabha on Progress of Mangalore Airport

Ministry of Civil Aviation - Press Release
New Delhi July 25:The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is working to upgrade the Mangalore Airport in Karnataka. This information was given to the Parliament by Shri Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation in the Rajya Sabha today.
A new runway of dimension 2450 metre x 45 metre for operation of AB-310-300 class of aircrafts has already been constructed at the Mangalore Airport. There are plans to construct a new integrated terminal building complex with all modern facilities for handling 500 passengers at a time. This can be done only when the required additional land is handed over to the AAI by the State Government of Karnataka. Menawhile AAI has taken up renovation/modification of the existing terminal building and has initiated action for providing space for customs and immigration.
At Mangalore Airport Instrumental Landing System(ILS), has already been installed. Promulgation of the ILS is contingent on completion of flight trials, nominated check points, evaluation of let down procedure and approval by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
On completion of all the above works and when all relevant requirements are met, the Ministry of Civil Aviation will examine the possibilities to upgrade Mangalore Airport into an international airport.
Upgradation of an airport into an international airport is considered from time to time based on various factors such as projections of requirements by airlines, availability of land, customs , immigration plant and quarantine facilities etc.

Mangalore: Railway Link to Bajpe Airport needs Station at Maravoor Porkodi

The Hindu

Railway station can be set up at Porkodi or Maravoor It can be set up at Porkodi or Maravoor

Mangalore, Jul 24: The State Government has proposed a new rail link from Bayappanahalli to Bangalore international airport at Devanahalli.
However, the suggestion given by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to build a station for the existing railway line passing through the proposed new Mangalore (Bajpe) airport has not been taken up.
The railway line from Mangalore to Mumbai passes through Maravoor and Porkodi, which are on the way from Mangalore city to Bajpe airport.
Air India is planning to connect Mangalore and Dubai this year by introducing its low cost airline Air India Express. Air India has begun setting up its facilities at the Bajpe airport. The rail link will be particularly useful for cargo operations once the international flight service begins.
In case of Bangalore international airport a new railway line has to be laid. But in case of Mangalore the Union Government has to take a decision to set up a railway station either at Porkodi or Maravoor, official sources said. There is already a road link to Maravoor and Porkodi, which connects the city with the Bajpe airport.
There is a need to construct a station for the existing railway line, sources said.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Mangalore:Dubai-Mangalore Low-budget Flight Still Away from Couple of Months

  • by Raviprasad Kamila for THE HINDU
    The airliner has deposited money with Airports Authority of India
    The Union Government has declared Bajpe airport a customs airport
    The Police department has provided training to the staff to be deployed for immigration clearance

MANGALORE, July 16: Air India is likely to launch its low-cost airline Air India Express between Dubai and Mangalore in a couple of months as it has deposited money with Airports Authority of India (AAI) to set up facilities at the Bajpe Airport.
Airport sources told The Hindu here on Friday that Air India was expected to start work on setting up facilities such as check-in counter and office and duty manager's room at the airport in a few days. Although the AAI had earlier allotted space for the airliner to set up its facilities at the airport, the latter had not deposited the amount needed for the purpose. But the amount was deposited on Thursday, they said.
Air India had proposed to start its Air India Express flight service between Mangalore and Dubai in May. But it did not materialise so far. It was said that the airline is facing shortage of aircraft.
The Union Government has declared Mangalore airport as the customs airport. The Police department has provided training to the staff to be deployed for immigration clearance at the Bureau of Immigration, Mumbai.
Directorate of Customs has also trained its manpower needed for customs clearance. The AAI has provided all basic facilities needed for starting service to international destinations.
Aviation policy
Only Air-India could start services to the Gulf according to the civil aviation policy, sources said.
But Air India had not begun any promotional activities for the proposed service. Hence it was not sure when exactly it would start it, sources said.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Mangalore:Airport Authority to Construct New Arrival Hall at Bajpe Airport

Tuesday, July 11, 2006 7:53:05 AM (IST)
Raviprasad Kamila for The Hindu

It is expected to be ready in ten months
The hall will be able to accommodate over 200 passengers
It will have immigration and customs counters, a duty free shop and conveyor belt
MANGALORE, July 11: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will construct a new arrival hall building in the existing terminal building area at Bajpe airport here at an estimated cost of Rs. 4 crore. Work on this will commence on Wednesday, according to sources in AAI.
Sources told The Hindu that the new hall was expected to be ready in ten months. Once the work is completed the existing arrival hall will become part of the departure hall and security hold area.
While the new hall will be able to accommodate over 200 passengers at a time, the existing hall has the capacity to handle only 150 passengers. The new hall will have space for immigration and customs counters, a duty free shop, conveyor belt and other facilities.
The annual passenger traffic (arrival and departure) at the airport has been on an upward trend for the past four years. The annual passenger movement at the airport stood at 2.02 lakh in 2002, 2.03 lakh in 2003, 2.64 lakh in 2004 and 2.77 lakh in 2005. According to AAI's projection, the passenger traffic is expected to touch 4.10 lakh in 2006.
In addition to this, the AAI had proposed construction of a new terminal building. However, the State Government is yet to hand over 82 acres of land for this to AAI.
The AAI has made budgetary provisions to construct the new terminal building. As the completion of the new terminal building will take nearly three years after the State hands over the land, AAI plans to build a new terminal hall keeping in mind the increasing passenger traffic.