Mangaluru International Airport Prepares for Winter Schedule Surge

Mangaluru: Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) is brimming with anticipation as it gears up for the commencement of its winter schedule, set to begin on October 29. The forthcoming season brings the re-entry of SpiceJet after a brief hiatus, the debut of Air India Express in the domestic sector, and Indian aviation leader IndiGo expanding its existing schedule to include niche routes. This development promises a host of new opportunities for passengers.

During the period from October 29 to November 15, MIA is poised for significant growth, with flight frequencies expected to surge by up to 26%. Presently, the airport handles 136 weekly flights, both on domestic and international routes. This number is set to rise incrementally, reaching 138 flights (a 1% increase) on October 29, followed by 145 flights (a 7% increase) from November 3, 158 flights (a 16% increase) from November 6, and a substantial 172 flights (a 26% increase) from November 15.

SpiceJet will introduce two daily flights to Bengaluru, effective November 6, except on Tuesdays, utilizing a 78-seater Bombardier aircraft. On Tuesdays, the airline will operate only one flight. Meanwhile, IndiGo is adding a fourth daily flight to Mumbai starting November 3, and this will further expand to five flights every second and fourth Saturday. The airline's Chennai route, operated with ATR aircraft, will receive a boost with additional flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, complementing its existing daily service.

IndiGo's operations to Bengaluru (5 daily flights), Hyderabad (2 daily), and Delhi (1 daily) will remain unchanged, while Pune will see three flights per week (Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays). Air India Express (AIE) is set to initiate its domestic services from Mangaluru, commencing with two daily flights to Bengaluru starting November 15. The second daily flight on the inbound leg will operate on the Kannur-Bengaluru-Mangaluru sector, with the outbound route from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram via Bengaluru.

This expansion will elevate the daily flights to Bengaluru from the current 5 to 9, while Mumbai flights will increase from 5 to 6 (and 7 every second or fourth Saturday). Additionally, IndiGo plans to resume direct flights to Patna, Ranchi, and Kolkata as the winter season progresses, culminating on March 30, 2024. On the international front, AIE will maintain services to Dubai (2 daily), Abu Dhabi (4 flights per week), Dammam and Muscat (3 flights per week), Doha and Bahrain (2 flights per week), and Kuwait (1 flight per week). IndiGo will continue to operate four weekly flights to Dubai, while SpiceJet also expects a resumption of flights to Dubai during the winter season.