Mangalore : It was a momentous occasion for the Mangalore airport on September 28, Friday when Airbus A-310, a Portugal made aircraft landed on the runway, allaying all notions that the tabletop airport was unsafe for large aircrafts. The Airbus A-310 weighing 1.40 lakh kilo grams has a cargo compartment to which the baggage can be loaded mechanically. There are machines to elevate the baggage and load into the cargo room. The  24-ton capacity aircraft can accommodate 186 passengers.

The Portugal made Airbus with a creamy white body was a delight to watch as it landed. An airport official said Dais Gomes, commander of the crew of aircraft expressed his contentment and satisfaction on landing at the Mangalore airport.

The same aircraft will operate for five days to ferry Haj pilgrims before returning to Portugal. This aircraft provides cargo facilities, it is a boon to Haj pilgrims who can bring back about five  liters of zam zam water.