Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 8: The Covid third wave which hit the country beginning December end, had a telling effect on the number of air passengers. The statistics available at the airport here bears testimony to this fact.

In December last, 1,38,369 passengers including 1,07,090 domestic passengers and 31,279 international passengers travelled through the airport here. But in January when the third wave had the maximum impact, only 92,012 passengers (63,648 domestic, 28,364 international) travelled through this airport.

There is also a dip in the number of flights operated from here. In all, 953 domestic flights operated in December and 219 international and 60 chartered flights also touched down and took off from here. In January, 712 domestic, 248 international and 44 chartered (total 1,004) flights were flown. In October last, 80,704 domestic and 39,134 international (total 1,07,190) passengers had travelled. In that period, 781 domestic, 201 international and 14 chartered flights operated.

The union government has clarified that the state government has not sent any proposal to change the name of the international airport here. This reply was furnished by minister of state for civil aviation, Dr V K Singh, in reply to a question raised by Rajya Sabha member Subrahmanyan Swamy on Monday. He said that recommendations of the respective state governments and resolutions passed by the Assembly are taken into account while naming an airport.