The Hindu
Mangalore, Apr 16: A year after it came out of the red, Mangalore airport of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Bajpe made a remarkable operating profit in 2007-08. It made an operating profit 10 times more than what it was in 2006-07.
Its operating profit in 2007-08 stood at Rs. 8.61 crore whereas in 2006-07 it was Rs. 83 lakh, M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, told The Hindu.
The airport’s revenue and expenditure in the last financial year stood at Rs. 19.50 crore and Rs. 10.89 crore, respectively, he said.
When net profit is worked out by the auditors, it could be slightly lower than the operating profit which did not account for depreciation and rate of return, he added.
He attributed the growth in the operating profit to increase in traffic and non-traffic revenue. Traffic revenue came from aircraft movements in the form of route navigation, landing and parking charges. Non-traffic revenue constituted revenue earned from renting out its terminal building premises to airline operators, from hoardings and display advertisements, snack bar, car park, travel requisite stall, restaurant and the like.
As the number of flight movements went up, the revenue also increased. The number of aircraft movements went up from 6,268 in 2006-07 to 10,019 in the last financial year, he said. The passenger traffic at the airport went up from 4.74 lakh to 7.13 lakh.
The airport had made no profit in the previous five years — from 2001-02 to 2005-06. Its operating loss in 2005-06 stood at Rs. 2.8 crore.
Construction work
Referring to the on-going construction of new terminal building and apron on the premises of the airport, he said 40 per cent of the work had been completed. He said that concrete works of the basement of the building had also been completed. More than 40 per cent of the concrete works of the first floor had been completed.
Some critical construction material for the erection of roof of the building are expected to arrive from Jamshedpur in a few days.
Apron (parking facility for aircraft) works alone had been completed up to 75 per cent. The apron can accommodate five aircraft, four Airbus 310 and one Airbus 321, at a time.
Works on the construction of two aerobridges were under progress. This will enable passengers to board the flight from the security hold area in the first floor. Ground floor would have the offices of AAI, shops, arrival and departure halls. The basement would have check-in counters of airlines, immigration and custom offices, he said.