Mangalore Airport (India)

Mangalore Airport (India)

Mangalore Airport, (IATA: IXE, ICAO: VOML) formerly known as Bajpe Airport, is an international airport, serving the coastal city of Mangalore, India. Several daily flights connect Mangalore with most major cities in southern and western India as well as many major cities in the Middle East. The airport was opened on 25 December 1951 as the Bajpe Aerodrome when then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru arrived on the maiden flight on a DC-3 Dakota aircraft. The airport was the first in the State of Karnataka to have two runways, one of which was fully concrete. Mangalore Airport is capable of handling aircraft up to A310 size in all weather conditions. Night operations are permitted at the airport.

The operation of international flights started in 2006 with Air India Express flying to Dubai. Mangalore Airport was a customs airport for six years from 3 October 2006 to 3 October 2012, before it was granted the status of International Airport.

The 61-year old airport has seen tremendous growth from its first flight, a single cargo-cum-passenger Dakota planes in 1951 to modern Boeings and Airbuses. Mangalore being a one of major port city of India having world-class industries and educational institutions, helping Mangalore Airport to clock record growth in passenger traffic.