Aircrash has no impact on flight passengers

Aircrash has no impact on flight passengers

Ronald Anil Fernandes, Deccan Herald

Mangalore, July 18: Though the number of aircraft movements have declined in 2010 compared to last year, there is a steady rise in number of air passengers who are travelling through Mangalore airport. 

 
The Mangalore airport registered 5,630 aircraft movements between January 2009 and June 2009 while the movements in the corresponding period in 2010 were 5,440, that is, 190 aircraft movements less compared to last year. However, as many as 4,08,912 passengers have travelled between January 2010 and June 2010 as against 3,62,480 passengers who travelled in the corresponding period in 2009.

Out of the 4,08,912 passengers who travelled through Mangalore airport in the first six months of 2010, 1,18,569 were international passengers while 2,90,343 were domestic passengers. Similarly, out of the 3,62,480 passengers who travelled through Mangalore airport in the first six months of 2009, 1,15,193 were international passengers while
2,47,287 were domestic passengers, according to the details available with the airport.

The month-wise classification of passengers in 2009 is as follows. Number of aircraft movements are in brackets: January - 61,505 (1,042); February - 49,741 (864); March - 53,557 (934); April - 63,258 (938); May - 77,556 (948); and June - 56,863 (904). Similary, the month-wise classification of passengers in 2010 is as follows: January - 71,234 (936); February - 59,559 (858); March - 62,905 (994); April - 74,032 (944); May - 77,522 (920); and June - 63,660 (788).

Interestingly, it may be noted that on an average, approximately 10,000 more passengers have travelled through Mangalore airport in the first four months of 2010 when compared to the first four months of 2009.

No impact after aircrash

Going by the passenger statistics, it is evident that the May 22, 2010 aircrash had little or no impact on the air passengers. “Its a false allegation that there is a decline in number of air passengers after the aircrash,” Airport Director M R Vasudeva told Deccan Herald.

As many as 63,660 passengers travelled through Mangalore airport in June 2010 against 56,863 passengers who travelled in June 2009, that is, 6,797 more passengers have travelled in June 2010 when compared to last year in spite of 116 less number of aircraft movements in June 2010. However, when compared to May 2010, there is a slight dip in travellers. But, that is due to bad weather and less number of aircraft movements in the month of June.

 “June 2010 registered only 788 aircraft movements (218 international and 570 domestic) as against 920 aircraft movements in May 2010 (224 international and 696 domestic), Vasudeva informed.

It may be recalled that several aircraft did not land in Mangalore or were diverted to Calicut, Bangalore or Mumbai due to bad weather in the month of June. The damaged localiser (due to aircrash) too added to the rain woes.

8.5 lakh passengers this year?

In 2009, as many as 7,57,389 passengers have travelled through Mangalore airport between January 1 and December 31. It includes 2,38,087 international passengers and 5,19,302 domestic passengers in 2,802 and 8,346 aircraft movements respectively.

In the first six months of 2010, 46,432 more passengers have travelled when compared to the first six months of 2009. Going by the statistics, the number of passengers should exceed 8.5 lakh by December 31, 2010.

With the New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) scheduled to open by this month end, and the re-appointment of M R Vasudeva as the Director for Mangalore airport, who is keenly interested in bringing more changes and more facilities to the airport, there is no doubt that the number of passengers travelling through Mangalore will increase much more than 8.5 lakh this year itself.  
 
Courtesy: Deccan Herald, July 18