AAI to use aerobridges on trial basis at Mangalore Airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, November 5: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to start using two aerobridges at Mangalore International Airport on a trial basis from Friday. M. R. Vasudeva, the airport director, informed that the plan has received the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) nod.

The aerobridge will facilitate passengers to directly get into the aircraft from the terminal building and enter the terminal building directly from the aircraft. Since Mangalore witnesses heavy rainfall from June to October and very hot summers in April and May, the aerobridges will protect the passengers from sun and rain.

Mr. Vasudeva said that the aerobridges are not meant for ATR aircraft because they did not have the proper designs for them. He also said that only airlines to Bangalore use ATR aircraft, and that airlines to places such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, West Asia, Mumbai, Kozhikode, and Kochi use either Airbus 320 or 321 or Boeing 737 or 800. The aerobridges will be constructed at the cost of Rs. 2.6 crore.

The director also informed that the AAI plans to construct a new building for its Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the estimated cost of Rs. 26 crore.