MANGALORE: Bajpe (Mangalore) airport of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the first time earned a profit of Rs. 83 lakh (provisional) during 2006-07, according to M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport.

Speaking to The Hindu he said that the airport earned Rs. 11.02 crore (provisional) in revenue during the period. The expenditure during the same period stood at Rs. 10.19 crore (provisional). "These are provisional figures subject to audit," he clarified. All these years the airport was under loss.

He attributed the profit mainly to increase in air traffic in the last financial year. Hence, the traffic revenue, which mainly came from route navigation, landing and parking charges, went up. Three international flight services were started in the last financial year.

There was an increase in non-traffic revenue too. 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 constituted non-traffic revenue.

According to Mr. Vasudeva the number of flights (take off and landing) went up from 4,528 in 2005-06 to 6,669 in 2006-07. The airport earned Rs. 6.22 crore in revenue during 2005-06 and the expenditure stood at Rs. 9.02 crore. Hence the airport had suffered a loss.

In the financial years of 2004-05, 2003-04, 2002-03 and 2001-02 the airport could not earn any profit. The revenue and expenditure during these financial years stood at Rs. 5.54 crore and Rs. 7.92 crore, Rs. 5.01 crore and Rs. 6.76 crore, Rs. 4.22 crore and Rs. 6.39 crore and Rs. 4.14 crore and Rs. 5.65 crore respectively, he said.

There were 3,944 aircraft movements in 2004-05, 3,908 in 2003-04, 3,492 in 2002-03 and 3,504 in 2001-02.

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