Mangaluru: The Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), which is the second biggest airport in the state after the KIA, has witnessed 63 per cent growth in the movement of domestic passengers this October, compared to last October. For the period April to October, 2017, the growth in traffic of domestic passengers has been 29.7 per cent, with 80,33, 02 passengers have flown out from MIA.

According to data available , compared to last October, this October has seen a whopping 63 per cent increase in domestic passengers, with 1, 30,416 flying from MIA, while last year it stood to 79,795. Even the movement of international passengers has risen by 11 per cent in October. For the period April to October in 2017-18, the rise in international passenger movement is about 29.7 per cent, and 80,33,02 passengers have flow from MIA, while it was just 61, 94,48 last year.

In terms of both international and domestic passenger movement, MIA has seen a 42.1 per cent increase in traffic, compared to last October, with a total 1,90,919 passengers making use of the facility.

Mangalore International Airport is the 12th largest airport handling international passengers in the country after Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, KIA, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad and Tiruchirappalli International Airport.

Better connectivity to metropolitan cities, increased flight operations and low prices could be major reasons for surge in domestic passengers, says V V Rao, airport director, MIA, adding that a few more domestic flights will be added in the next year, giving a boost to domestic air travel.

Currently, MIA operates direct domestic flights to major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. There are also connecting flights to other cities.

Asked whether there are any new flights overseas, Rao maintained that talks are on and that it may materialize next year. He said the volume of cargo has also seen a boost, with an increase of 423 per cent in October, 2017, with handling of 204 metric tonnes of cargo.

Currently, MIA handles more than 45 international flight arrivals as well as departures per week. The flights are being operated to Dubai, Dammam, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat and Abu Dhabi.