The Hindu

They also visited the new runway, which is nearing completion 

• Air India Express had planned to start an international flight service on May 7
• The response of the immigration team will be known after a few days

Mangalore, Apr 13: A team of officials of the Immigration Department visited Bajpe airport here on Wednesday April 12, to assess and project the requirements of immigration facilities to start flight services to international destinations from Bajpe airport.

Official sources told The Hindu that the team inspected the facilities at the airport, availability of space and other aspects related to immigration.

Members of the team also visited the new runway, which is nearing completion.

They held discussion with officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the State police authorities at the airport.

Members of the team represented the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, National Informatics Centre, State Intelligence Wing, Department of Immigration and other departments.

The team visited the airport after the Air India Express, the low-cost airline of Air India, evinced interest in starting flight services between Thiruvananthapuram and Dubai via Mangalore. If this service is to start, immigration and customs facilities should be ready at Bajpe airport.

Existing facilities

Sources said customs officials in Mangalore have no hesitation in using the existing facilities to offer custom-related services. At present, they have not demanded extra facilities at the airport and are ready to cooperate with the AAI with the existing facilities.

However, the response of the immigration team will be known only after a few days.

A team of Air India officials also visited the airport recently to look into aspects related to arrangement of in-flight catering facilities. Air India Express had planned to start the flight service on May 7.

However, it is unlikely that it will start on that day and may be postponed by a few months, sources said.