VASCO
Goa Airport Director Dhanamjaya Rao on Wednesday admitted there has been a considerable 15-20% drop in footfall but maintained that Goa International Airport at Dabolim was here to stay.
Rao accepted that number of passengers at Dabolim Airport had dropped after Mopa airport had begun operations.
“After Mopa Airport commenced, we handled 8.4 million passengers in the last financial year but this financial year, we have handled around 7 million passengers and so, that means there is a difference of around 15-20% in the figures,” said Rao.
“Dabolim Airport will however remain operational and we will get additional flights in the coming summer schedule. Most charter flights operate from here except for one operator.”
The Dabolim airport director said he did not think there is any pressure from the government or politicians to any airline to move out of Dabolim.
“Many airlines prefer to operate from Dabolim Airport and we may get back to our maximum in the days to come. As of now, we have international airlines operating from here like Gulf Air, Air Arabia and Air India Express.”
“We may also have new sectors in March between Goa to Pune and Hyderabad. As of now, we are ready for any operations with all the slots and if any airline wants to operate to any sector including Ayodhya, we are ready to give slots. There is no threat to Dabolim Airport as of now and Dabolim Airport will survive because it has a very good potential,” said Rao.
Commenting on the decision of Qatar Airways to shift operations to Mopa International Airport, Rao said: “Qatar Airways is a flight operator and they take their own decisions. Qatar Airways had one daily flight to Goa Airport but we have to respect their decision. Yes, there has been a certain reduction in operations after this decision.”
