Lok Sabha Question No. 534 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Point of Call Status to Mangalore Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 534

(To be answered on the 6 th  February 2025)

## POINT OF CALL STATUS TO MANGALORE AIRPORT

## 534. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has considered granting Point of Call status to Mangalore Airport to enable international airlines to share codes and enhance connectivity, if so, the details thereof and if not, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) the current status of land acquisition proposals submitted by Mangalore Airport Authorities including the acquisition of additional land for safety enhancements as requested on 9th January, 2025 and the acquisition of hundred acres of land for the expansion of the airport to upgrade its capacity from Code D to Code E, allowing aircraft with upto 356 passengers per
- landing;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expedite approvals for the said proposals to ensure the safety and growth of the airport; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the timelines fixed and the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a): The international operations of airlines are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective country. In accordance with ASA, Indian designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any point in India including Mangalore to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits, while any designated foreign airline can operate to/from a point in India if it is designated as a Point of Call (PoC) in the ASA.

At present, the Government of India promotes more international operations by Indian carriers from non-metro points either directly or through their own domestic operations. Accordingly, new non-metro points including Mangalore are not being granted as PoC in the ASA to any foreign country. (b) to (d): Airports Authority of India (AAI) has leased out Mangaluru International Airport to Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MaIAL) for better operations, management and development under Public Private Partnership (PPP). MaIAL had  projected additional land requirement of 32.97 acres for Runway Safety Basic Strip and Runway End Safety Area. Subsequently, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had requested Government of Karnataka (GoK) to hand over this land to AAI, free of cost. However, GoK had not agreed for the same as Mangalore Airport is being operated under PPP. Subsequently, AAI has been directed by MoCA to address the matter in accordance with Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) guidelines so as to ensure that operational safety and efficiency of the airport is maintained while mitigating any potential adverse impact on user tariffs. As regards the extension of runway to cater to Code E operations, no firmed up proposal from MaIAL has been received.

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