Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 21: Civil aviation minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Friday e-inaugurated the Udan Yatri Café at Mangaluru International Airport and digitally launched DigiYatra at the facility.
The café, situated in the pre-check-in departures area, offers snacks and beverages starting at Rs 10 as part of efforts of the government to expand affordable passenger amenities. The café’s introduction is part of a broader strategy to ensure that air travel remains a viable option for more people.
Mangaluru commenced DigiYatra trials in June 2024, initially covering 338 of 36,895 domestic passengers in that month. By January 2026, 24,512 of 79,114 domestic travellers used the system, reflecting 30.98 per cent adoption.
DigiYatra facilitates biometric-enabled, paperless travel using facial recognition technology, thereby ensuring seamless passage at various checkpoints. DigiYatra eliminates the need for physical documents, making travel process efficient and ecologically friendly, reducing wait times at various touchpoints. Security and privacy are central to Digi Yatra's mission.
Mangaluru International Airport is operated by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), India’s largest private airport operator, which also operates airports in Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur and Lucknow.
About Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MgIAL)
Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MgIAL) is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), the flagship of the globally diversified Adani Group, and the largest private operator of seven functional airports in India through Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). AAHL holds a 49 per cent stake, while AEL, the parent company, holds the majority 51 per cent stake in MgIAL. MgIAL operates and is modernising Mangaluru International Airport (IXE), a major aviation hub in Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Mangaluru International Airport, Mangaluru (IATA: IXE ICAO: VOML)
Mangaluru International Airport, with a rich history of over 70 years, is spread over 583.77 acres and holds the distinction of being Karnataka’s second busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, having managed 2.32 million passengers in FY 2024–25. The airport, which is the first in Karnataka to have two runways, including one made of rigid pavement and overlaid with asphalt, currently caters to over 50 air traffic movements (ATMs) every day.
With a digital-first approach, the airport delivers a smooth experience for passengers through advanced technology and efficient operations. As an emerging cargo hub, IXE manages air cargo of over 5,600 metric tonnes per annum.
In July 2025, Airports Council International (ACI) awarded IXE Level 4 accreditation for customer experience. The accreditation recognises the airport's advanced practices in service design and innovation, governance, and customer understanding. Mangaluru International Airport was the first Indian airport in the 5 million passenger category to achieve the Level 3 milestone.