PANAJI
A substantial decline in activity at Dabolim International Airport has become a cause for concern, particularly amid uncertainties about its sustained viability with the commissioning of Manohar International Airport (MIA) at Mopa.
The issue now is even more alarming as charter flights operating from Dabolim dropped by nearly 50 per cent in December 2023 “ the month synonym with the peak tourist season.
While the main reason is being attributed to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict, the slump at Dabolim has also been linked to a shift in airline preferences towards MIA.
Chief Operating Officer at Sita Travels Ernest Dias has conceded the current scenario stating that with two airports in operation, it is evident that flight allocations are divided. “The decline in international flights is firstly due to the ongoing wars, and secondly high-pricing. So also, airlines are getting inclined towards MIA,” he said, speaking to The Goan.
Figures available with The Goan indicate that the number of charters dropped to 38 in December 2023 from 75 in December 2022. This in turn led to a decline in footfalls with merely 14,239 passengers landing at GOI in December 2023 as against 29,048 in the last corresponding month.
Overall, the count of international passengers decreased from 58,653 in December 2022 to 40,930 in December 2023, alongside a decrease in flights from 366 to 257 during the respective period.
A prominent Russian charter operator, requesting anonymity, also cited dual airports as a factor in the decline of charters at Dabolim, while quickly adding that the season, by and large, has so far been disappointing.
“The charter season is a flop. Goa hasn't received the expected number of charters, and despite initial Kazakhstan charters, it has ceased. Charters from Uzbekistan are yet to arrive. Only TUI is performing well,” he said.
Another charter operator, who hasn’t got the business this season, added that airplanes cannot fly over Russia due to the war, and airspace closures in other countries like Iraq and Iran have led to lengthy routes, which have deterred charter tourists from going on an international vacation. "As a result, charters have decreased due to the lack of demand from visitors. I haven't handled a single charter this time," he added.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Nilesh Shah has also acknowledged a considerable drop in charters. “We have Russian charter tourists but the numbers are not as expected. Charter arrivals have plunged and most of those currently holidaying in Goa, are not high spenders,” he said.
