Dabolim airport received its first international charter flight SCAT Airlines DV 5212 for this tourist season. The charter flight landed at Goa International Airport on Wednesday morning from Kazakstan with 187 passengers. These tourists received a warm welcome at the airport from the Minister for Transport Mauvin Godinho.
The arrival of SCAT Airlines DV 5212 at the Goa International Airport, Dabolim, is considered good news for stakeholders in the Goa tourism industry.
This is because there were speculations that once the Mopa International Airport becomes functional, the Dabolim airport will see a decrease in passenger footfall. But the arrival of the charter flight from Almaty, Kazakstan, has put an end to this argument.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, SVT Dhananjay Rao, Director of Goa International Airport, Dabolim, said that the arrival of the first international charter flight SCAT Airlines DV 5212 is a good sign for Goa and its tourism industry.
Another official at the airport said that the airport is expected to handle approximately 300 flights for this tourist season. Around 4 to 5 flights are expected to come to Goa from Kazakstan and Moscow.
Minister for Transport Mauvin Godinho said that he wants to assure the propagandists who were claiming that Dabolim airport would shut down that it is not going to happen. He added that Dabolim airport will surpass the survival stage and will grow stronger.
Earlier, passengers from the first charter flight were greeted warmly by Minister Godinho with a bouquet and the cutting of a cake as a gesture of a joyous welcome.