Mangalore International Airport Explained

Mangalore International Airport
Image2-Width:	250
Iata:	IXE
Icao:	VOML
Type:	Public-private partnership
Owner:	Airports Authority of India
Operator:	Mangaluru International Airport Limited^[1]
City-Served:	Mangalore
Location:	Bajpe, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Elevation-F:	337
Elevation-M:	103
Metric-Elev:	yes
Metric-Rwy:	yes
Coordinates:	12.9614°N 74.89°W
Pushpin Map:	India Karnataka#India
Pushpin Label:	IXE
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location in Karnataka
Opened:	^[2]
R1-Number:	09/27
R1-Length-M:	1,615
R1-Length-F:	5,299
R1-Surface:	Asphalt
R2-Number:	06/24
R2-Length-M:	2,450
R2-Length-F:	8,038
R2-Surface:	Asphalt
Stat-Year:	April 2023 - March 2024
Stat1-Header:	Passengers
Stat1-Data:	2,030,387 (12.2%)
Stat2-Header:	Aircraft movements
Stat2-Data:	15,042 (4.6%)
Stat3-Header:	Cargo tonnage
Stat3-Data:	2,175 (43%)
Footnotes:	Source: AAI^[3] ^[4] ^[5]

Mangalore International Airport (also known as Mangaluru International Airport) is an international airport^[6] serving the coastal city of Mangalore, India. It is one of only two international airports in Karnataka, the other being Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore. Mangalore International Airport is the second busiest airport in Karnataka. In addition to domestic destinations, flights depart daily for major cities in the Middle East. The airport was named Bajpe Aerodrome, when it opened on 25 December 1951^[7] by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who arrived on a Douglas DC-3 aircraft.^{[2] [8]}

Overview

The airport is near Bajpe, around 13km (08miles)^[9] northeast of Mangalore city centre. It is on top of a hill, with two tabletop runways (09/27 and 06/24). Only two other airports in India have tabletop runways – Kozhikode and Lengpui.^[10] The very small and basic terminal was renovated in the early 2000s, adding parking controls, additional seating and additional cafés. The airport was initially used for limited domestic flights, mainly to Mumbai and Bangalore.

The operation of international flights started in 2006 with Air India Express flying to Dubai. Mangalore Airport was a customs airport^[11] for six years, from 3 October 2006 to 3 October 2012, before it was granted the status of International Airport.^[12]

Until 2005, the small 1600abbr=onNaNabbr=on 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 landed on the new runway.^[13] 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.^[14]

From 2011 to 2012, the airport had a revenue of and an operating profit of,^[15] up from in 2006–07.^[16] In 2012–13 the airport handled a landmark 1.02 million passengers with 11,940 aircraft movements.^[15] 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.^[15] In 2013–14 it handled a 1.25 million passengers with revenues of Rs 638.9 million.^[17]

In July 2019, the central government approved leasing of the airport through public-private partnership (PPP) to the Adani Enterprises, for operations, management and development for the next 50 years.^[18] This airport is accredited by the Airports Council International (ACI) under the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme.^[19]

Facilities

Runway

The first runway (09/27), 1615abbr=onNaNabbr=on long, was opened in 1951. It is a tabletop runway, with landing approaches presented with the extreme edges of a hillside.^{[20] [21]} The edges of the hill drop into a valley from a height of about 90m (300feet) to 9m (30feet)) within a short distance of just 500m (1,600feet) on the east of the runway and from about 83m (272feet) to 25m (82feet) on the western side. The runway was not level, with the height varying from 90m (300feet) to 83m (272feet) from east to west. Landing on this short runway was considered difficult.

Mangalore Airport was the first airport in Karnataka to have two runways^[22] and the first to have a runway made of concrete.^[23] The second runway (06/24), 2450abbr=onNaNabbr=on 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.^[24] The airport has acquired land to build a taxiway parallel to the new runway to reduce aircraft turnaround time.^[25]

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel announced on 15 May 2010 that a work order for extending the runway to 9000feet would be issued soon.^[26] 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.^[27]

Safety improvements were implemented after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India) (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.^{[28] [29]}

Passenger terminal

The road to the new terminal reduces the distance between the city and the airport by about 8km (05miles).^[30] The airport had a trial run of the terminal for domestic flights on 16 December 2009.^[31] On 15 May 2010, the terminal building was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel,^[32] along with former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa. 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.^{[33] [34]}

Since 1 September 2010, the airport is charging a user development fee (UDF) of per passenger for domestic flights and for international flights. This fee was approved by the Civil Aviation Ministry.^[35]

, 26 domestic flights and 52 international flights were operated every week.^[36]

Air traffic control

The construction of a new air traffic control (ATC) tower was completed in June 2014,^[37] and commissioned for one-month trial on 19 January 2015.^[38]

On 5 September 2013 the Airports Authority of India commissioned a DGCA approved advanced automated air traffic management system, replacing the older system.^[39] 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 Medina, Saudi Arabia, for pilgrims undertaking the Hajj.^[40] In 2011 and 2012 chartered flights landed at Mangalore International Airport and carried passengers from the old terminal building.^[14]

Indian Coast Guard Air Station

The Mangalore Airport Director announced on 28 January 2016 that the Airports Authority of India have handed over 17000square feet of space at the old terminal building to the Indian Coast Guard to set up an air station for its air operations.^[41] The ICG proposed the stationing of two of its Dornier 228 aircraft at the air station.^[41]

Expansion

• Currently the apron is connected to the edge of runway 06, and aircraft movements on the apron have to be stopped when a plane lands and can only resume when it reaches the apron.^[42] A new 2,400-metre^[43] taxiway will be built parallel to the runway and join the runway ahead of the landing threshold, enabling aircraft on the apron to move towards the runway and hold, saving 10 to 15 minutes. The construction work on the parallel taxiway started on 1 November 2014^[44] and though slated for completion in September 2016,^[45] only Phase I was completed by March 2017.^[46]
• The 812 crash inquiry recommendation for runway lengthening not having been implemented due to funding obstacles, its length remains 2450m (8,040feet).^{[47] [48] [49]}
• Passenger volume projections for the year 2025 made by the AAI while constructing the new passenger terminal were already exceeded in 2012.^[50]
• Commencement of wide-body aircraft flights from the airport, under a public-private partnership model, depending on allotment of 1abbr=onNaNabbr=on of land from the government.^[51]

Statistics

Presently, it ranks 12 in the list of airports with international passenger traffic after Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, Tiruchirappalli international airports.^[52] 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.^[53]

Mangalore International Airport passenger traffic statistics

!Year!Rank!Passengers!Growth!Rank change

2023-24		2,018,000	12.5%
2022 - 23^[54]	29	1,809,266	78.5%	2
2021 - 22^[55]	31	1,013,453	64.8%
2020 - 21	31	614,845	67.2%	2
2019 - 20	29	1,876,294	16.3%	2
2018 - 19^[56]	27	2,240,664	1.3%	4
2017 - 18	23	2,269,949	30.8%	2
2016 - 17^[57]	25	1,734,810	3.6%	4
2015 - 16^[58]	21	1,674,251	28.1%
2014 - 15^[59]	21	1,307,083	1.82%	3
2013 - 14	18	1,283,667	23.02%	3
2012 - 13	21	1,043,386

See also: List of busiest airports in India.

Air cargo complex

Air cargo complex of the airport was commissioned in the year 2013.^[60]

Tonnage and Annual Handling Capacity!Cargo type!Total covered area!Capacity (One time handling capacity)

International
Domestic

Major commodities are fresh vegetables, chilled fish, ornamental fish, cashews, flowers and machinery parts.

Connectivity

KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) operates Airport low-floor Volvo bus services from Mangalore Central Railway Station and Manipal to Mangalore International Airport.^{[61] [62]} 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.

Accidents and incidents

• On 19 August 1981, Indian Airlines Flight 557, a HAL 748 VT-DXF overshot the 5783feet old runway 27 at Mangalore-Bajpe Airport in wet weather.^[63] The aircraft came to a halt just beyond the runway edge. While there were no fatalities, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off. One of the passengers was Veerappa Moily, then Finance Minister of Karnataka.^[64] An investigation revealed numerous pilot-attributed errors: the aircraft's flaps had not been set to landing position, the aircraft had landed long on the downsloping runway, at excessive speed and with a tailwind. The aircraft involved was HAL 748 VT-DXF, with manufacturer's serial number 511;^[63] it first flew in 1967.
• On 22 May 2010, Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737-800 VT-AXV, flying on the Dubai-Mangalore route, overshot the 8033feet runway number 06/24, killing 158 people, including 6 crew members; only 8 survived. The aircraft overshot the runway and plunged into a steep gorge at the end of the runway.^[65] The starboard wing impacted the concrete socket of the instrument landing system (ILS) localiser antenna, rendering it unusable.^[66] This resulted in delayed or cancelled flights for two weeks during the monsoon rains, which reduced visibility.^[66] It took the airport a little under a month to repair and calibrate the ILS and bring it back online.^[67]

See also

• List of airports in Karnataka

External links

• Mangalore Airport at Airports Authority of India website.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mangaluru International Airport. cbonds.com. 7 March 2023.
2. News: First man who landed in Mangalore: Airport is fine. 26 May 2010. 31 May 2010. Rediff News.
3. Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 22 April 2024.
4. Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 22 April 2024.
5. Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 22 April 2024.
6. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/cabinet-grants-international-airport-status-to-five-airports/articleshow/16673279.cms Cabinet grants international airport status to five airports
7. News: First man who landed in Mangalore: Airport is fine. 26 May 2010. 31 May 2010. Rediff News.
8. News: The Green Green Fields of Home. 29 September 2006. 13 March 2008. Manglorean.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714025748/http://www.mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?k=0&articleid=771&arttype=Feature. 14 July 2011.
9. Web site: Airports Authority of India. www.aai.aero. 10 October 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150207000150/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/mangalore_generalinfo.jsp. 7 February 2015.
10. News: Indian skies are safe for flying: Kanu Gohain, Ex-Director General, DGCA. 23 May 2010. The Economic Times. 23 May 2010.
11. PIB Web site: Untitled Page . 30 November 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013603/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=78747 . 2 May 2014 .
12. Web site: Our Bureau . Business Line : News / States: Mangalore airport gets international status . Business Line . 30 December 2012.
13. News: Kingfisher Creates History – Airbus A-319 Trial Flight Lands at Bajpe. 13 January 2006. 3 November 2006. DaijiWorld.
14. http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=151151 Airbus 310 Cynosure of All Eyes at Mangalore Airport
15. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/mangalore-air-passenger-traffic-put-at-1-million-for-201213/article4674031.ece
16. News: Mangalore airport revenue up. 21 August 2012. The Times of India. 25 August 2012. 3 January 2013. https://archive.today/20130103110905/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-21/mangalore/33302364_1_airport-director-mr-vasudeva-airport-revenue-international-flights. dead.
17. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/MIA-handles-record-passengers-during-2013-14-at-a-growth-of-21-71-/articleshow/34162590.cms MIA handles record passengers during 2013–14 at a growth of 21.71%.
18. News: Adani Group set to run Mangaluru airport for 50 years . 29 August 2020 . The Times of India . 4 July 2019 . en.
19. News: Adani airports in Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru get ACI accreditation . 18 January 2021 . 18 January 2021 . Business Standard.
20. News: Hi-fliers on a high. 16 December 2006. 29 January 2008. The Hindu. usurped. https://web.archive.org/web/20070913140511/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/12/16/stories/2006121600490100.htm. 13 September 2007. dmy-all.
21. News: Mangalore airport upgradation plan – Economic 'gains' vs local 'interests' . 17 July 1998 . 29 January 2008 . Environment Support Group . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120411221959/http://www.asivadodaracircle.in/ . 11 April 2012 .
22. News: 21 September 2006. New runway at Bajpe airport meets all norms. The Hindu.
23. News: Pilot training programme at Bajpe airport from Sunday. https://web.archive.org/web/20071001062002/http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/04/stories/2007010416020300.htm. dead. 1 October 2007. 4 January 2007. 8 February 2007. The Hindu. Chennai, India.
24. News: New runway at IXE opened for commercial operations. https://web.archive.org/web/20071205112253/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/11/stories/2006051123470100.htm. dead. 5 December 2007. The Hindu. 11 May 2006. 10 January 2011.
25. News: Land for parallel taxiway at Bajpe Airport notified . 11 June 2008 . 3 July 2008 . Manglorean.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714030404/http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=80796 . 14 July 2011 .
26. News: Rs 100 crore more for upgrading Mangalore airport. 15 May 2010. 25 May 2010. Press Trust of India.
27. News: Mangalore airport runway length to be increased by 1,000 ft. 30 May 2010. 25 May 2010. The Hindu.
28. http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_mangalores-table-top-airport-one-of-the-most-unsafe-in-india-dgca_1617614 Mangalore’s table-top airport one of the most unsafe in India: DGCA
29. http://www.coastaldigest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33732:dgca-finally-renews-licence-of-mangalore-airport-&catid=57:news-stories&Itemid=18 DGCA finally renews licence of Mangalore Airport
30. News: New terminal almost ready at Mangalore airport . 29 June 2007. 10 August 2009. Bangalore Mirror . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707213046/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=73&contentid=200906292009062920384773455a8987c&sectxslt= . 7 July 2011.
31. News: Successful trial run of domestic flight. 16 December 2009. 9 February 2010. The Times of India.
32. News: Mangalore airport may go international soon. 15 May 2010. 17 May 2010. The Times of India.
33. News: New Airport Terminal to open tomorrow. 1 August 2010. 1 August 2010. The Times of India.
34. News: New Integrated Terminal Building of Mangalore Airport at Kenjar in Action . 2 August 2010. 4 August 2010. Daijiworld.
35. News: UDF at M'lore airport from 1 September . The Times of India . 10 August 2010.
36. Web site: Big boost for Mangalore airport – Bangalore – DNA . Dnaindia.com . 15 May 2010 . 17 March 2017.
37. News: Mangalore airport takes wings with new Air Traffic Control. Kamila. Raviprasad. 22 June 2014. The Hindu. 17 September 2014.
38. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/mangalore-airport-gets-new-air-traffic-control-tower/article6804752.ece Mangalore airport gets new air traffic control tower
39. News: Mangalore airport to get advanced air traffic management system . 1 February 2021 . The Hindu . 6 September 2013 . en-IN.
40. http://www.coastaldigest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30772:first-hajj-flight-takes-off-from-mangalore-with-159-passengers-&catid=59:top-stories&Itemid=67 First Hajj flight takes off from Mangalore with 159 pilgrims
41. News: Kamila . Raviprasad . Coast Guard gets space at Mangaluru airport for air squadron . 17 April 2021 . The Hindu . 28 January 2016 . en-IN.
42. News: Mangalore airport to have new taxiway for rush days ahead. The Hindu. 24 May 2013. 7 January 2021.
43. News: Kamila . Raviprasad . Extension of additional taxiway at airport gets AAI approval . 7 January 2021 . The Hindu . 16 June 2016 . en-IN.
44. News: PTI . Manglore airport to be shut at night for six months . 17 April 2021 . Zee News . 18 October 2014 . en.
45. News: The Hindu. AAI approves extension of Mangaluru airport taxiway . The Hindu Business Line . 15 July 2016 . 9 September 2017.
46. News: AAI commissions phase I of part parallel taxi track at MIA. The Times of India. 6 March 2017. Shenoy. Jaideep. 9 September 2017.
47. Web site: Our Bureau . Business Line : Industry & Economy / Logistics : Mangalore runway expansion: Preliminary notification soon for land acquisition . Business Line . 30 December 2012.
48. News: Our Bureau . Hubli, Mangalore airports figure in AAI's development plan – Business Line . The Hindu Business Line . 9 February 2012 . 24 March 2013.
49. Web site: Tarun Shukla . Mangalore air crash: panel formed to implement preventive steps . Livemint . 20 January 2013 . 24 March 2013.
50. Web site: A. J. Vinayak . Business Line : Industry & Economy / Logistics : Mangalore airport enters the big boys' league . Business Line . 14 October 2012. 30 December 2012.
51. Web site: More international routes from Mangalore airport in 2013 . The Times of India . 30 December 2012 . 3 January 2013 . https://archive.today/20130103212818/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-12/mangalore/34411901_1_mangalore-airport-m-r-vasudeva-new-air-traffic-control . dead .
52. Web site: Mangalore Airport records growth in passenger traffic. 25 January 2016 .
53. Web site: Mangaluru airport takes giant steps with 22 % growth in passenger traffic.
54. Airports by Passenger Traffic, 2019-20. 1 October 2023.
55. Web site: Airport Authority of India Traffic News 2021-22. AAI. 29 April 2022.
56. Web site: International Passengers - 2018-19 Statistics. Airports Authority of India. https://web.archive.org/web/20230918102830/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k20Annex3.pdf. 18 September 2023.
57. Web site: 2016-17 Statistics. Airports Authority of India. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170428052950/http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/Mar2k17annex3.pdf. 28 April 2017.
58. Web site: 2015-16 Statistics. Airports Authority of India. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160527102138/http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/Mar2k16annex3.pdf. 27 May 2016.
59. Web site: 2014-15 Statistics. Airports Authority of India. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083223/http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/mar2k15annex3.pdf. 18 May 2015.
60. Web site: Airports Authority of India. www.aai.aero. 29 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161030001119/http://www.aai.aero/cargo/Cargo_Overview-AAI-Airports.jsp. 30 October 2016. dead.
61. News: KSRTC introduces AC bus service to Mangaluru International Airport . The Hindu . November 2022 .
62. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-24/mangalore/33366032_1_railway-station-mangalore-airport-ksrtc-divisional-controller KSRTC launches seven new city services in Mangalore
63. Web site: Accident description . 24 June 2010 . Aviation Safety Network.
64. News: Moily's close shave in Mangalore 30 years ago. 22 May 2010. 24 June 2010. The Hindu.
65. News: 150 killed as Air India plane crashes in Mangalore . 22 May 2010 . . 22 May 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100525095443/http://www.hindustantimes.com/150-killed--as-Air-India-plane-crashes-in-Mangalore/H1-Article1-546915.aspx . 25 May 2010 .
66. News: Airline companies bleed as flights get cancelled. 9 June 2010. 17 June 2010. The Times of India. Stanley G. Pinto.
67. News: Instrument Landing System Begins Operation at Mangalore Airport Again. 17 June 2010. 17 June 2010. DaijiWorld.com.