PANAJI
The commissioning of the Manohar International Airport (MIA) at Mopa has led to a significant decline in overall flight movement and passenger traffic at Dabolim International Airport – till a year ago Goa’s sole airport.
This is evidenced by a comparison of the month-wise data of flights and passengers for the years 2022 and 2023 at Dabolim. Except for the months of January and February 2023, flights dropped drastically from March 2023 onwards. The gap in number of flights is clearly visible in the accompanying chart.
Official figures from the last calendar year reveal that Dabolim airport began experiencing a downturn from March 2023 when the average domestic flights slipped by 15.4 per cent, and further dropped to a low of minus 26.8 per cent in November 2023 (see graph).
Similarly, the percentage of domestic passenger movement initially saw a single-digit decline but later escalated to double-digit figures, ranging from 17 per cent to 20 per cent per month. In November 2023, just before Goa’s peak tourist season, there was a substantial 32.4 per cent drop.
Official comparative figures from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for December 2023 are yet to be compiled. As per tentative data, 3,470 Domestic Flights were recorded for this month, a drop from 5,220 in December 2022.
While these statistics are in comparison with the corresponding months in 2022 until when Dabolim had its monopoly, the decline began with the commissioning of MIA and several airlines redirecting their aircraft to the much-hyped Greenfield airport at Mopa.
International flights too commenced operations, starting July 2023. Although the initial figures were modest, there has been a consistent increase in the number of flights every month.
In July, 10 international flights brought 1,951 passengers to Goa. By August, this figure surged by 200 per cent, reaching 30 flights with 4,471 passengers. In September, the numbers continued to rise with 53 flights bringing 6,625 passengers.
As the tourist season started in October 2023, MIA experienced heightened activity, handling 63 international flights and serving 7,188 passengers. The momentum persisted into November 2023, surpassing 100 flights and accommodating 16,061 passengers from various parts of the world.
The total international movement for the peak month of December 2023 was 257, a drop from 366 in December 2022.
MIA claims the facility is connected to 25 domestic and four international destinations within a year of its existence. “In the past year, Manohar International Airport witnessed remarkable achievements and invaluable lessons. Boasting increased passenger growth, expanded routes, and the launch of international services, MIA now connects to 25 domestic and four international destinations. Handling over three million passengers since its inauguration on January 5, 2023, MIA has become a pivotal player in transforming Goa's air traffic landscape,” it said.
Besides domestic-operated airlines like Indigo, Akasa Air, Vistara and Spicejet servicing at MIA, international destinations are being served by Air India, Oman Air, Indigo and Tui.
With the ongoing Phase 3 Stage 1 expansion, the MIA aims to reach eight million passengers per annum and the works are expected to be completed before the winter schedule of 2024.
