Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 1: Once Goa’s primary international gateway, Dabolim Airport is witnessing a steady decline in overseas flight operations, with most international airlines shifting their base to the newly established Manohar International Airport at Mopa.

The future of Dabolim Airport has now become a hot topic of debate among political leaders, industry stakeholders, and locals. However, despite the dwindling operations, there is a glimmer of hope as three international airlines have shown interest in resuming services from Dabolim.

At present, only Gulf Air and Air India Express operate international flights from Dabolim after major carriers such as Air India, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Air Arabia, and SriLankan Airlines ceased operations. SriLankan Airlines exited even before Mopa Airport became operational, while others gradually transitioned to Mopa, diminishing Dabolim’s international connectivity.

The departure of Air India’s Goa-Gatwick service in July 2023 was an early indicator of this shift. This was followed by Oman Air’s move in October 2023 and Qatar Airways’ exit in June 2024. By July 2024, Air Arabia also finalized plans to shift to Mopa, reinforcing suspicions that the move was politically motivated rather than market-driven.

The exodus has raised concerns among stakeholders in South Goa, particularly taxi operators, hoteliers, and travel agencies reliant on tourist arrivals at Dabolim. Many believe this transition is part of a larger plan to gradually phase out the airport.

The issue took a political turn when the Congress accused the State government of coercing airlines to shift operations to Mopa, calling it an attempt to render Dabolim Airport obsolete. The opposition further warned that Dabolim was on its way to becoming a “ghost airport,” alleging that the government was prioritizing Mopa over the interests of South Goa residents, for whom Dabolim remains a more convenient option.

Adding to the concerns, there are reports that even cargo operations may be shifted to Mopa, further diminishing Dabolim’s relevance. However, the State government has dismissed these fears. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho have assured that both airports will function efficiently and that efforts are being made to sustain operations at Dabolim.

Former Dabolim Airport Director Dhanamjaya Rao acknowledged that passenger traffic had dropped post-Mopa’s launch but maintained that domestic and charter flights would continue to keep Dabolim active.

Amidst the uncertainty, some international carriers are considering Dabolim’s revival. A senior airport official told The Goan that Kuwait Airways has expressed interest in launching operations from Dabolim.

“We have allocated early morning and late-night slots to Kuwait Airways and are awaiting confirmation. Any airline interested in operating from Dabolim is welcome,” the official stated.
Additionally, Oman Air and Qatar Airways are reportedly considering a dual-airport operation model, which could see them resuming flights at Dabolim while maintaining services at Mopa to cater to passengers flying to Europe and the US.

While the departure of major airlines remains a setback, the response from Kuwait Airways and the potential return of Oman Air and Qatar Airways have offered a ray of hope for Dabolim Airport’s international connectivity.

With growing domestic and charter traffic, Dabolim is far from a “ghost airport,” but its long-term survival hinges on policy decisions, airline interest, and government intervention to ensure a balanced aviation landscape in Goa.

Although the government insists that both airports will operate in tandem, the steady shift of international flights to Mopa raises critical questions: Will new airlines step in to fill the void, or is Dabolim Airport being slowly phased out? Only time will tell.c