Thursday, October 11, 2012

New Airlines on Mangalore-Gulf Route Soon, Fares Likely to Reduce

New Airlines on Mangalore-Gulf Route Soon, Fares Likely to Reduce

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)


Mangalore, Oct 11: Mangalore International Airport director M R Vasudeva on Thursday October 11 hinted that with some of the airline companies coming forward to operate between Gulf countries and Mangalore, the fares are likely to be slashed in the coming days.

"Three to four airline companies will operate five or six aircraft to Gulf countries by March 2013," he said, addressing reporters at ‘Meet the Press’, an interactive session held here on Thursday October 11.











He said that airline companies like Etihad and Air Arabia have shown interest in operating flights between Mangalore and Sharjah / Abu Dhabi. "In addition to revision in ticket fares, people would benefit by way of convenient timings if more flights are operated. Discusssion in regard is on at the ministry level," he revealed.

However, he pointed out that that flights from Mangalore to countries like America and the European continent is not a possibility right now, as passenger potentiality is the deciding factor to commence direct aircrafts to these countries. "If passengers to aforesaid countries are not in sufficient numbers, what is the viability in operating direct flights?" he questioned.

He also said that Jet Airways will start operating between Mangalore and Mumbai by October 28.

Recalling his initial days in Mangalore Airport way back in 2002, Vasudeva said that 206 families who sacrificed their land for the second runway had to be rehabilitated in a school building, however, afterwards they were given a good colony. He said that 10 years ago Bajpe airport as well as the area had hardly seen any developement, but today the airport is of world class standards with facilities that are lacking in other airports.

He expressed his satisfaction and the work he has put in over the years, and said that he could retire happily now that the airport has earned international tag. Vasudeva would be retiring from his post at the end of this month.

Asserting that more work is yet to take place in Mangalore International Airport, he said, "If air cargo complex is built soon, the region will see more development. A wrong notion with regard to safety of table top airport had to be removed to earn the international tag for Mangalore Airport. Decisive factors like sloping runway and distance-to-go markers were fulfilled within four and two months' time respectively," he said.

He stated that Mangalore International Airport enjoys exceptional radar and navigation equipment when compared to Kochi and Coimbatore airports.

"Passengers at Mangalore Airport have increased considerably over the years. There were 9,30,000 passengers this year, which is 4 times higher than in 2002."

To a query, Vasudeva said that runway extension with pillars costs the same as filling the valley with soil. "Jumbo aircraft can operate if the runway is extended after acquiring 250 acres of land," he said.

Press Club president Ramakrishna honoured Vasudeva on the occasion.

Thursday, October 04, 2012

It's Official: Mangalore Airport Finally Gets International Tag

It's Official: Mangalore Airport Gets International Tag

Daijiworld Media Network

Mangalore/New Delhi, Oct 4: It is finally here. The long-cherished dream of scores of Mangaloreans was realized on Thursday October 4 with the official announcement of international status to Mangalore Airport.

The announcement in this regard was made by union finance minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCI).

Coimbatore, Trichy, Lucknow and Varanasi have also been granted the international airport status after the proposal came for approval before the union cabinet on Thursday.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCI), at its meeting in New Delhi, approved the proposal for the upgradation of the five airports which have the required infrastructure in place like large terminal, immigration and customs facility to handle international operations.

"These airports already have infrastructure like immigration and customs to handle the international operations. In fact some of them already do have some international flights. With this (decision) we expect that these airports will be able to attract more international flights and travellers," P Chidambaram said after the meeting.

An international airport is one that can accommodate international flights that requires separate layers for immigration and customs including high end facilities at the terminal like aerobridges and mandatory runway length to accommodate jets.

With the approval, the long pending demand of Mangaloreans will become a reality and the international tag would give an impetus to tourism and the overall development of the city.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde deserves a special mention as he has been consistently and relentlessly pursuing the matter, together with union minister for corporate affairs Dr M Veerappa Moily.

Conversion of a domestic airport into an international airport means creation of more standardized immigration facilities. The international tag would also mean that the airport would be open to foreign airlines and more facilities would be available to the passengers.

Reacting to the news of the approval of the international tag Airport Director M R Vasudeva who will be retiring by the end of October pointed out “it is the parting gift given to me and the people of this district by my department. We have been trying very hard for this tag for the last so many years ever since international type of facilities was made available at the Mangalore Airport in May 2006. I am happy that all our efforts have borne fruit”.

He also stated that the new tag would entail more international passenger inflow and Mangalore will be viewed in a different angle henceforth.


J P Hegde Welcomes Move

Speaking exclusively to Daijiworld, MP Jayaprakash Hegde expressed his happiness and said that the move would benefit people of the coastal region who are working abroad.

The international status to the airport has brought a new dimension to its operations and within October Ajith Singh will inaugurate, he said.

He said the cabinet has also put forward a proposal to build an airport at Ottinene in Byndoor as per the requirement of the people. In this regard a meeting was also hold with Jagadish Shettar, he said. The minimum distance between two airports (150 km) is also fulfilled as the distance between Ottinene and Bajpe is 150 km.

"If the proposal of Ottinene airport is sanctioned in the cabinet, people from Dakshina Kannada to Kumta will be benefitted," he said.