Mangaluru Airport

Overview

The airport is near Bajpe, around 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Mangalore city centre. It is on top of a hill, with two tabletop runways (9/27 and 6/24). Only two other airports in India have tabletop runways – Kozhikode and Lengpui. The terminal was very small and had basic facilities; it was renovated in the early 2000s. New seats were added, parking controls were introduced, and additional cafes were opened. The airport was initially used for limited domestic flights, mainly Mumbai and Bangalore.

The operation of international flights started in 2006 with Air India Express flying to Dubai. Mangaluru Airport was a customs airport for six years, from 3 October 2006 to 3 October 2012, before it was granted the status of International Airport.

Until 2005, the small 1,600 m (5,249 ft) runway meant the airport could only handle Boeing 737-400 size aircraft. The longer runway now handles slightly larger aircraft. On 10 January 2006 an Airbus A319 of Kingfisher Airlines was the first aircraft in that class to land on the new runway. On 28 September 2012 an Airbus A310 landed for the first time at Mangalore. It was a charter flight for the Hajj pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Airport has seen double digit growth in passenger traffic after introducing international flights. As of 2014, the airport had a growth of 21.51 per cent in passenger handling during 2013–14, with 54 per cent growth in international traffic. It has handled 1,255,000 passengers in 2013–14 against 1,032,000 in 2012–13. The airport is expected to handle 900,000 passengers in 2025.

In 2011–12 the airport had a revenue of ₹ 42.64 crores and an operating profit of ₹ 87.6 million, up from ₹ 8.3 million in 2006–07. In 2012–13 the airport handled a landmark 1.02 million passengers with 11,940 aircraft movements. The revenue for the same period was Rs 506.6 million, and it recorded an operating profit of Rs 164.9 million during 2012–13. In 2013–14 it handled a 1.25 million passengers with revenues of Rs 638.9 million.

Runway

The first runway (9/27), 1,615 m (5,299 ft) long, was opened in 1951. It is a tabletop runway, with landing approaches that lead up to the extreme edges of a hillside. The edges of the hill drop into a valley from a height of about 90 m (300 ft) to 9 m (30 ft)) within a short distance of just 500 m (1,600 ft) on the east of the runway and from about 83 m (272 ft) to 25 m (82 ft) on the western side. The runway was not level, with the height varying from 90 m (300 ft) to 83 m (272 ft) from east to west. Landing on this short runway was considered difficult.

Mangaluru Airport was the first airport in Karnataka to have two runways and the first to have a runway made of concrete. The second runway (6/24), 2,450 m (8,038 ft) long, was opened on 10 May 2006. A Jet Airways flight from Bangalore with 95 passengers on board was the first to land on this runway. The airport has acquired land to build a taxiway parallel to the new runway to reduce aircraft on ground time.

Union minister of state for civil aviation Praful Patel announced on 15 May 2010 that a work order for extending the runway to 9,000 feet (2,740 m) would be issued soon. After the crash of Air India Express Flight 812, the minister reaffirmed on 30 May 2010 that the runway extension will take place and will take into account the spillover area required during an emergency.

Safety improvements were implemented after the directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) identified this as one of the 11 airports in India as unsafe. Addition of a runway end safety area, ensuring proper markings on the runway, and proper maintenance of the basic strip were among the improvements.

Passenger terminal

The road to the new terminal reduces the distance between the city and the airport by about 8 km (5.0 mi). The airport had a trial run of the terminal for domestic flights on 16 December 2009. On 15 May 2010, the terminal building was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, along with former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yeddyurappa. It was to be opened to air traffic on 1 July 2010, but it became operational on 2 August 2010 due to delays caused by the Air India Express Flight 812 accident.

Since 1 September 2010, the airport is charging a user development fee (UDF) of ₹150 (US$2.20) per passenger for domestic flights and ₹825 (US$12) for international flights. This fee was approved by the Civil Aviation Ministry.

As of 15 May 2010, 26 domestic flights and 52 international flights were operated every week.

Air traffic control

The construction of a new air traffic control (ATC) tower was completed in June 2014, and commissioned for one-month trial on 19 January 2015. After the trial period it will be run normally for two more months. DGCA approval will be received based on the results of the trial and normal operations in this period.

On 5 September 2013 the Airports Authority of India commissioned a DGCA approved advanced automated air traffic management system, replacing the older system. The system enhances flight safety by providing flight plans, direction finders, and air-ground-data link messages. This system processes radar feeds from Bangalore, Chennai, and Thiruvananthapuram and displays them at Mangalore.

Old terminal

Since 2011 the old terminal has been used for direct flights to Madinah, Saudi Arabia, for pilgrims undertaking the Hajj. In 2011 and 2012 chartered flights landed at Mangalore International Airport and carried passengers from the old terminal building.

Indian Coast Guard Air Station

The Mangaluru Airport Director announced on 28 January 2016 that the Airports Authority of India have handed over 17,000 sqft of space at the old terminal building to the Indian Coast Guard to set up an air station for its air operations. The ICG has proposed to station two of its Dornier air craft at the air station.

Future expansion

Statistics

Presently it ranks 12 in the list of airports with international passenger traffic after Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, Thiruchirapalli international airports. The Airport had 8.91 lakh passengers in the FY 2011-12 and witnessed a growth rate of 5.44%. According to the airport sources it has a target of achieving 16 lac passengers traffic in the FY 2016-17

Air cargo complex

Air cargo complex of the airport was commissioned in the year 2013.

Major commodities are fresh vegetable, Chilled Fish, Ornamental Fish, Cashew Nut, Flowers and Machinery Parts.

Connectivity

KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) offers bus service between the airport (from the bottom of the hill) and Central Railway Station. Taxis ply between the airport and the city of Mangalore. Prepaid taxi service is available around the clock at the airport counter in the arrival hall.

Ola Cabs has started the services in the city which extends to the Airport in Mini, Micro and Sedan categories.

Accidents and incidents

Mangaluru Airport is in a region that receives the highest rainfall in India. Minor incidents, especially overshooting the runway during landings, have been reported in the rainy season. This airport was the scene of the third deadliest aviation disaster in India. This incident led to the implementation of major safety improvements at the airport.

Major incidents are listed below.