SpiceJet keen on starting flight services from Mangalore

Bellevision Media Network

• It may start operations by June, says M.R. Vasudeva

 

Mangalore, 16 February 2011: SpiceJet is keen on connecting Mangalore with Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi through its flights, according to M.R. Vasudeva, Director of the Mangalore airport.

 

Only Air India and its subsidiaries, Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways are operating flights from Mangalore.

 

 

At a meet-the-press programme organised by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Association here on Tuesday, Mr. Vasudeva said that SpiceJet had approached the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in connection with operating its flights in the domestic sector. It might operate its flights from Mangalore either in May or June.

 

Mr. Vasudeva said that he was hopeful that Air India, which had suspended its flights between Mangalore and New Delhi, would resume its service either in May or June.

 

The new runway at the airport could be extended by 1,000 ft. towards the Gurupura side if steps were taken to fill the valley near the airport. The airport now had a runway of 8,036 ft.

 

The State Government should take initiative in this regard. It might need at least Rs. 250 crore to fill the valley. “It is a gigantic task, but possible,’’ he said.He said that raising concrete pillars from the depth if the valley for extension of the runway was not a viable solution as it required huge funds. Filling the valley with mud was the viable solution. If the runway was to be extended, at least 10 families living in the area would have to be relocated.

 

The director said that the Indian Meteorological Department had plans to upgrade its weather alert and information facilities at the airport.

 

He said that AAI had invested about Rs. 250 crore in the development of Mangalore airport, with Rs. 207 crore in the past five years alone.

 

The airport’s air traffic control (ATC) facilities were housed in its old terminal building at Bajpe. A portion of the building would be utilised for handling cargo operations.

 

The AAI would provide space to the Indian Coast Guard in the old terminal for its proposed helicopter services, he said.

 

Mr. Vasudeva said that the Customs Department would have to declare the airport fit to handle cargo services. The entire process might take three more months.

 

The chimneys of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) were not coming in the way of aircraft operations. The dumping yard of the Mangalore City Corporation at Vamanjoor was not a major threat for aircraft operations, he said.

- The Hindu