Projections of passenger growth at MIA demand better provisions

Projections of passenger growth at MIA demand better provisions

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 23, 2014:  Mangalore International Airport (MIA) in the first half of this financial year so far, has had a  varied trend of passenger  handling in international and domestic operations , J T Radhakrishna, airport director, MIA gave official figures.

It is categorically stated that the number of passengers travelling through MIA from April 1 to September 30, 2014 is 6.57-lakh passengers, as against 6.32-lakh passengers for the corresponding period last year,  an overall growth of 4% during the period.

In the first six months of this fiscal, the growth in international passengers from MIA is 24%, e there has been a 5% reduction in number of domestic passengers. The airport handled 2,36,789 international air passengers as against 1,91,952 in the first six months of last fiscal, while the number of domestic air passengers was lower at 4,19,052 as against 4,40,309 passengers last year.

Tier two airports such as Trichy, Madurai, Tirupati, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Bhubhaneshwar have reported reduced domestic passenger growth. Yet, MIA has seen 15% and 21% growth in passenger traffic in 2012-13, and 2013-14. Pointing out that  the current year growth may not be on par with previous years, Radhakrishna said this trend positively calls for more domestic and international destinations to be added to MIA.

The air port Director, went on to inform the media present that tier II airports like MIA are bearing the burden due to the fact that metro airports have added more flights by with new airlines and new destinations.  Fare war  among airlines is motivating air passengers to go to the nearest metro airport and take connecting flights to the destination. He stated that passenger from Mangalore travel by road/rail to Bangalore and board flight to Delhi which benefits them in several ways.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) data for MIA projects it handled 12.50 lakh passengers in the last financial year logged  growth of 21.71%, an all time best for Mangalore .  MIA during 2012-13 had foot falls of 10.32 lakh passengers,  domestic and international. Overall growth in 2013-14 for  2012-13 is 21.71%, against all India passenger growth of around 4%.  Certainly there is a good case for the authorities to give due importance to sustain and encourage the growing trend of Mangalore Air port.