Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Oct 9: A year ago, Kannur International Airport (KIA) started its operations. While the new airport witnessed a drastic growth in passenger movement, Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) was severely hit.

Before Kannur Airport started functioning, passengers from Madikeri, Kerala travelled from their respective places to Mangaluru International Airport. But now, the footfall from Madikeri, Kerala and even Mangaluru is diverted to KIA.

One of the main reasons the locals prefer KIA is the flight fares. Most of the flights from Kannur to Gulf countries are cheaper when compared to Mangaluru. Sometimes, the fare difference comes up to Rs 10,000.

Daily flights which are scheduled at time that is convenient for passengers is another reason people prefer Kannur airport over Mangaluru.

Speaking to daijiworld.com, member of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (Karnataka branch) Mabiya Kadaba who hails from Derlakatte said that earlier the flight timings to Kuwait from Mangaluru were convenient. However, now the timings are not flexible.

“People, who travel to Kuwait from Mangaluru, prefer Thursdays. This is because Friday is a holiday in GCC countries. The earlier Mangaluru-Kuwait flight was preferred as people reached Kuwait on Friday morning, giving them sufficient rest before they join back work. However, now flight timings from Kannur International Airport are flexible and the fares are comparatively cheaper than Mangaluru,” he said.

Mabiya said that a memorandum was submitted twice to Dakshina Kannada MP to make changes in flight timings at Mangaluru Airport. Yet, no action was taken. “Now the airport in Mangaluru is of no use and flights are not scheduled as per the convenience of passengers. Hence, it’s natural that passengers prefer Kannur airport over Mangaluru,” he adds.

Mabiya also highlights that the cost of travelling from Kannur is almost half when compared to travelling from Mangaluru. The ticket that costs 120 dinars from Mangaluru to Kuwait is 60 dinars from Kannur airport.

Kannur airport, spread over 2,300 acres, is built at a cost of Rs 2,293 crore. The airport has a runway suitable for Code E aircraft like the Boeing B 777 and Airbus A 300. It will be extended later for the operation of Code F aircraft, like Airbus A 380. The integrated 95,000 sq mtrs terminal building, the eighth largest in India, has been built with state-of-the-art facilities.