Karnataka - Mangalore   

More comforts at Bajpe Airport

— Photo: RAVIPRASAD KAMILA

Expands facilities: M.R. Vasudeva (extreme left), Director, Bajpe Airport, at the departure hall of the airport in Mangalore on Monday, 2008.

MANGALORE: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has introduced new facilities at Bajpe (Mangalore) Airport to provide additional comforts to passengers.

They have been introduced at a time when passenger traffic at the airport recorded a 12.27 per cent growth in April 2008 when compared to the corresponding month in 2007. The aircraft movements at the airport registered a 30.16 per cent growth in April 2008, compared to the corresponding period last year.

It has installed commercial closed circuit television sets, opened a baby sitting room and one more VIP room at the airport. In addition, a luggage packing facility has been provided to travellers. Two duty free shops will be opened at the airport shortly, according to M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport.

Mr. Vasudeva told The Hindu that the AAI has installed nine commercial closed circuit television sets. They display the arrival and departure timings of aircraft, messages from the AAI, information regarding delay if any in the arrival and departure of aircraft, and other messages for passengers. Earlier, only audio announcements were being made. Of them, three have seen installed in the departure hall, one each in two security hold areas, one each in domestic arrival hall and international arrival hall, one set outside the domestic arrival hall and one at the canopy (for passengers outside the terminal building).

The baby sitting room has been opened for lactating mothers. This facility would come in useful when there are delays in the departure of aircraft.

The additional VIP room is situated in the domestic arrival hall with all comforts. The director said that a luggage packing (wrapping) facility has been provided in the departure hall. After scanning the luggage, passengers can have their luggage wrapped for protection from damages. It deters pilfering and illegal manipulation of checked-in luggage.

Bajpe Airport handled 1,066 aircraft in the month of April (2008) alone. In fact, in April 2007, it had handled only 819 aircraft. Similarly, the number of passengers handled in April 2008 stood at 67,315 when compared to 59,958 handled during the corresponding month in 2007.

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