Stakeholders in coastal Karnataka want the State government to grant a point-of-call (PoC) status to Mangaluru International Airport — enabling foreign airlines to fly to, and from the city — for improved connectivity to the rest of the world. They point out that the PoC status would help unlock the region’s full potential in several sectors, including technology, tourism, education and healthcare, to name a few.
Rajesh Acharya, a native of Udupi district who currently works in Singapore, rues that Mangaluru airport has been operating below its full potential. He wants the government to push Indian carriers to launch new routes and offer support for two years to assess the viability of these routes. Alternatively, he suggests granting a PoC to authorise foreign airlines to service destinations that Indian low-cost carriers avoid due to commercial reasons.
Mangaluru’s connectivity to Southeast Asian destinations, particularly Singapore’s Changi airport, needs to be developed urgently, he says. Airlines like Air Asia and Scoot may be convinced to explore the route, he adds, especially given that they have onward connectivity to several destinations in South Asia, the Far East and Australia, and can benefit from the addition of fliers to, and from Mangaluru airport.
Long-pending demand
Trade and investments worth S$2 billion are long pending between Singapore and coastal Karnataka due to the lack of direct connectivity, Acharya says.
Capt Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament representing Dakshina Kannada district, says Mangaluru airport, despite its modern infrastructure and rising passenger and cargo traffic, remains underdeveloped due to the paucity of direct international air connectivity.
A PoC status for Mangaluru will open up new routes and offer significant economic benefits, given the region’s strategic proximity to international markets.
Flights from Southeast Asia and South Asia can use Mangaluru as a transit point for efficient connectivity to West Asia, creating a seamless travel network, he adds.
As a regional hub for international travel and trade, the airport will also boost tourism and industrial growth in Karnataka. This, in turn, would bring in foreign exchange, facilitate job creation, promote skill development and infrastructure development, and strengthen India’s position in global aviation networks, he says.
Chowta recently approached the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, seeking a PoC status for Mangaluru.
Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader, too, has approached the Civil Aviation Minister with a similar request, while pointing out that Mangaluru holds strategic importance due to its geographic proximity and strong connectivity with countries in West Asia and the Far East.
Stating that a large diaspora from the coastal Karnataka region resides across ASEAN and SAARC nations and frequently travels to Mangaluru for family reunions, business, and cultural engagements, Khader says enhanced connectivity through direct international flights will improve passenger convenience and boost the local economy.
Many foreign carriers fly to multiple international airports in neighbouring Kerala. Despite its size and economic significance, Karnataka has only one international airport, in Bengaluru, with PoC status. Given this lacuna, Mangaluru should be designated as the second PoC in Karnataka, he says.
The PoC status can additionally facilitate the export of perishable goods from the region, which are in high demand in West Asia and beyond, he adds.
