First private partnership rolls out in Mangalore

Mangalore International Airport (MIA) is the first to get a dedicated domestic air cargo terminal with private participation. AAI plans to set up such terminals at 22 airports.

“Mangalore International Airport (MIA) is the first airport to get a dedicated domestic air cargo terminal with private participation. The facility has been operational since June 26, 2015. Currently, apart from airports situated in the metros, domestic air cargo terminals are available in Coimbatore, Lucknow, Jaipur, being managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI),” says J T Radhakrishna, Airport Director, MIA.

As a new initiative, AAI plans to set up air cargo terminals with private participation in 22 airports across country, among which Vizag, Trichy and Ahemdabad are a few to name. AAI is currently in the process of issuing tenders for the same.

However, it is only Mangalore that has been able to get the necessary clearances as yet and has started operations of its domestic air cargo terminal.

Radhakrishna also mentioned that valuable goods such as perishables, medicines, essential machinery parts can be freighted as air cargo, from one airport terminal to another in the country.

Earlier, about 150-200 metric tonnes of cargo on a monthly basis was transported by MIA from its passenger terminal building itself. However, to avoid inconvenience to passengers, this common domestic cargo terminal has been established.

Trivia : MIA has been designed to handle 100 metric tonnes (MT) at a time: 50 MT in export and 50 MT in imports