A tale of Goa's two airports

Praveena Sharma

THE BEGINNING

Goa’s aviation story began during the Portuguese rule in 1955, when the then Government of Estado da Índia Portuguesa built an airport – Aeroporto General Bénard Guedes – on 249 acres of land in Dabolim.

Goa | Two airports | The beginning |Portuguese Rule | Photo: Rohan Fernandes

THE CHANGEOVER

It operated as the main hub – serving Diu, Daman, Karachi, Mozambique, Portuguese Timor and others - till Goa was liberated from Portuguese in 1961. Parts of it were destroyed during Goa’s annexation.

Goa | Two Airports | Main hub | Goa's liberation

AIRBORNE AGAIN

It was handed to the Indian Navy in 1962. Its civilian operations took off in 1966 after its runway was repaired. A new terminal – for 350 flights – was added in 1983. Around the same time, Goa’s charter flight business debuted with Germany’s Condor Airlines.  

Goa | Two airports | Runway | Repair

PROBLEM OF PLENTY

As Goa emerged as a tourist State, an international terminal with a capacity to handle 250 flights was built. Further expansions were undertaken over acquired land, but airport capacity always fell behind passenger growth.

NEW HUB

There wasn’t enough land around the airport to expand, even as it was bursting at the seams. Thus, the idea of a second airport at Mopa in Goa was mooted in 2000 but it languished for several years.  

Goa | Two airports | Second hub | Mopa

TAILWIND FROM ICAO

The new airport plan got a tailwind in 2013 from ICAO’s feasibility report that projected Goa’s air traffic at 10 million by 2035. The project was back on the runaway in 2014. The Manohar International Airport (MIA) in Mopa took off early last year.

Goa | Two airports | Tailwinds | Projected traffic

THE DOGFIGHT

Since then, the sky above MIA has been busy. Lately, Dabolim airport has been feeling the heat from it. Between April 2023 and March 2024, its passenger traffic has slipped 18.3 per cent, aircraft movement 22.4 per cent and cargo tonnage 5.5 per cent.   

Goa | Two airports |MIA busy| Dabolim losing | Gomantak Times

ON THE RADAR

The matter is pressing enough for State’s chief minister to raise it at a recent central civil aviation ministry meeting.  Despite the changed wind direction, both airports are on the airlines’ radar. But, at MIA, there’s a peppy Goan music playing.  

Goa |Two airports |On the radar | Peppy music

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