Mangalore Airport Revenues On the Upswing

DHNS
Mangalore, Mar 8: Revenues and passenger numbers at the Mangalore airport have not only been steady, but also set for an upswing.
The airport is expected to garner a profit of Rs 8 crore in 2008-’09, only marginally less than the Rs 9-crore profit it had made in 2007-08.
“We are extremely satisfied with the profits, given the sluggish traffic and slowdown of the economy. The new integrated terminal building will be ready by May, and help improve the traffic even more,” M R Vasudeva, Airport Director, Mangalore Airport. One more international plane - the Dammam, to Saudi Arabia - will fly out from Mangalore from March 25.
The flight, which was introduced following public demand, will operate twice a week. “This will also bring in more passengers,” said Vasudeva.
Things have changed
Till 2005, Mangalore airport had made operating losses of up to Rs 2.5 crore per annum. But in 2006, after the introduction of international flights to Dubai, things have changed for the better.
Operating profits touched Rs 9 crore in 2008.
“Prior to 2005, we had handled only 3,500 aircraft movements per annum. But in 2008, we handled 12,000. Air passenger numbers have also gone up from 2.77 lakh to 7.05 lakh in the period,” Vasudeva stated.
Now, the officials want to step on the accelerator - A sum of Rs 147 crore is being spent for airport upgradation.
Two aero-bridges and seven escalators will also be in place from May.
“Once the access road from the city to the airport is built by the government, there will be no looking back,” said Vasudeva.