Passenger traffic at Mangalore Airport increases

Total traffic has risen from 4.74 lakh to 4.83 lakh

Passenger traffic at Mangalore Airport has increased in the first seven months of this year, when compared with the corresponding period last year.

The total traffic has increased from 4.74 lakh passengers from January to July in 2010 to 4.83 lakh passengers during the corresponding period in 2011, according to director of airport M.R. Vasudeva.

He told

The Hindu that international passenger traffic increased from 1.38 lakh passengers to 1.46 lakh passengers, and domestic passenger traffic increased from 3.36 lakh passengers to 3.37 lakh passengers during the period.

But the total flight movements (arrival and departure) from January to July decreased this year when compared with the corresponding period last year.

The total movement of flights, including domestic and international, came down to 5,572 from 6,288 last year.

More domestic flights

Mr. Vasudeva said that with some more domestic flights scheduled to operate from the winter schedule starting from this October 25, air traffic would increase. The weekly movements would increase from 147 now to 194 movements. This would push up total passenger traffic up to nine lakh passengers this calendar year. In all 8.22 lakh passengers used Mangalore Airport in 2010 (January to December).

The director said that the State government was expected to start work on upgrading the exit road from the terminal building at Kenjar once rains stop. The State government had planned to develop it at an estimated cost of Rs. 7 crore.

He said the KSRTC was now operating its two Volvo buses between the airport and Mangalore Central Railway Station.