About Mangalore International Airport

Mangalore Airport (IATA: IXE, ICAO: VOML) formerly known as Bajpe Airport, is an international airport serving the coastal city of Mangalore, India. Several daily flights connect Mangalore with most major cities in southern and western India as well as many major cities in the Middle East. Management of the Airport is solely under Adani Group, a corporation responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.

The Airport, then the Bajpe Aerodrome, was opened on 25 December 1951 when then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru arrived on a DC-3 Dakota aircraft. The Airport is near Bajpe, around 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Mangalore city centre. It is on top of a hill, with two tabletop runways (9/27 and 6/24).

Only two other airports in India have tabletop runways – Kozhikode and Lengpui. The terminal was very small and had basic facilities; it was renovated in the early 2000s. New seats were added, parking controls were introduced, and additional cafes were opened. The airport was initially used for limited domestic flights, mainly Mumbai and Bangalore.

The operation of international flights started in 2006 with Air India Express flying to Dubai. Mangaluru Airport was a customs airport for six years, from 3 October 2006 to 3 October 2012, before it was granted the status of International Airport.

Passenger Terminal

The road to the new terminal reduces the distance between the city and the airport by about 8 km (5.0 mi). The airport had a trial run of the terminal for domestic flights on 16 December 2009. On 15 May 2010, the terminal building was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, along with former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yeddyurappa.

It was to be opened to air traffic on 1 July 2010, but it became operational on 2 August 2010 due to delays caused by the Air India Express Flight 812 accident.

At Mangalore International Airport, Flemingo Duty Free was awarded the retail concessions for all categories of duty free items which is operate a 10.20 sq m Arrivals store and an 8 sq m Departures store.

Since 1 September 2010, the airport is charging a user development fee (UDF) of Rs.150 (US$2.30) per passenger for domestic flights and Rs.825 (US$13) for international flights. This fee was approved by the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) offers bus service between the airport and Central Railway Station. Taxis ply between the airport and the city of Mangalore. Prepaid taxi service is available around the clock at the airport counter in the arrival hall.

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