Plea to expand Mangalore airport departure hall

Our Bureau
Mangalore, Sept. 19 The UAE-based Karnataka NRI Forum – a body of 40 different organisations in West Asia – has urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to expand the departure hall at Mangalore airport.
In a press release here, Mr Rajesh Sequera, Coordinator of the Karnataka NRI Forum, said the pressure on airport would increase by this year-end, as flights already operating to West Asia from Mangalore would increase their schedules. The space available at the present departure hall may not be enough to handle the passenger traffic. In such a situation, AAI should initiate steps to expand the departure hall, he said.
The forum thanked the AAI for building a new arrival hall at the airport.
Mr Sequera said that international airlines such as Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways and Emirates have shown interest in operating to Mangalore. But they are waiting for clearances from the Centre. If the Government allows other international airlines to operate from Mangalore, there would be more connectivity not only from West Asia but also from far eastern countries.
He said that Customs and Immigration authorities should provide additional manpower at the airport for 24-hour operations. As there is good potential for handling cargo from Mangalore airport, it should be declared as customs airport for cargo handling.
Additional land
Urging the Karnataka Government to sanction additional 300 acres of land to AAI for the overall development of the airport, he said this would help in the extension of the runway. An extended runway would help in landing bigger aircraft at the airport, he added.