Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 31: Mangaluru International Airport celebrated its sixth Commercial Operations Day anniversary on October 31, marking six years since Mangaluru International Airport Limited assumed the administrative and operational management of the airport from the Airports Authority of India on October 31, 2020.
The airport marked the occasion with a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony with passengers and stakeholders and the distribution of boxes of goodies to passengers who arrived on the Dubai-Mangaluru and Mumbai-Mangaluru flights respectively.
The anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on another year of significant progress in the airport’s transformation journey. Since the fifth anniversary celebration on October 31, 2025, the airport, which handled 2.55 million passengers in FY 2025-26, has achieved several notable milestones across customer experience, sustainability, safety, and operational excellence.
Among the most significant achievements was the airport earning the prestigious airports council international level 5 airport customer experience accreditation, placing Mangaluru among a select group of airports globally and one among four in India, recognised for embedding customer experience across the enterprise.
The airport also received international recognition for passenger experience, being named best airport at arrivals in the ACI Airport Service Quality Awards 2025 for second year in succession.
The airport further strengthened its sustainability credentials by receiving the Zero Waste to Landfill Platinum-Class 1 Certification from the Confederation of Indian Industry, supported by a landfill diversion rate of more than 99 per cent.
Operational safety and reliability received a major boost with the commissioning of the Precision Approach Lighting (PAL) category 1 system for runway 24, enhancing landing precision and flight safety during challenging weather conditions.
As Mangaluru International Airport moves confidently towards its 7th year of operations, the airport remains committed to delivering safe, sustainable and passenger-centric airport experiences while strengthening connectivity and supporting the region’s economic growth.
About Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MgIAL)
Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MgIAL) is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), the flagship of the globally diversified Adani Group, and the largest private operator of eight functional airports in India through Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). AAHL holds a 49 per cent stake, while AEL, the parent company, holds the majority 51 per cent stake in MgIAL. MgIAL operates and is modernising Mangaluru International Airport (IXE), a major aviation hub in Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Mangaluru International Airport, Mangaluru (IATA: IXE ICAO: VOML)
Mangaluru International Airport, with a rich history of 75 years, is spread over 583.77 acres and holds the distinction of being Karnataka’s second busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, having managed 2.54 million passengers in FY 2025–26. The airport, which is the first in Karnataka to have two runways, including one made of rigid pavement and overlaid with asphalt, currently caters to over 40 air traffic movements (ATMs) every day.
With a digital first approach, the airport delivers a smooth experience for passengers through advanced technology and efficient operations. As an emerging cargo hub, IXE manages air cargo of over 5,600 metric tonnes per annum.
In July 2026, Airports Council International (ACI) awarded IXE Level 5 accreditation for customer experience, making it one among four Airports in India to receive this prestigious global accreditation. This recognises the airport's advanced practices in service design and innovation, governance, and customer understanding. The Confederation of Indian Industry too issued Mangaluru Airport with the prestigious Zero Waste to Landfill certification. The Airport in June 2026 commissioned India’s first and Asia’s second Precision Approach Lighting Category 1 system, mounted on specially engineered towers.