Mysuru airport, which was once a rapidly expanding hub, is witnessing a decline in its air operations.
The airport, situated on the Mysuru-Nanjangud National Highway at Mandakalli, is now limited to just two daily flights. This comes after a private airline ceased its Hyderabad service. As per the Airports Authority of India (AAI) data, the airport saw a significant drop in passenger footfall in Feb 2024, with 3,989 arrivals and 3,570 departures, a stark contrast to 12,918 passengers in Feb 2023.
The current situation is attributed to the fact that only one airline is operating flights from Mysuru to Chennai and Hyderabad. The decrease in passenger traffic follows the discontinuation of flights to key destinations like Goa, Belagavi, and Kochi. Comparing year-on-year figures, Jan 2024 saw 9,465 passengers, down from 13,774 in Jan 2023. Dec 2023 also showed a decline, with 9,495 passengers as compared to 14,442 in Dec 2022.
Flight operations have decreased by 47.8 per cent in Feb 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year. Other regional airports such as Hubballi and Belagavi reported higher passenger numbers at 27,870 and 29,530 respectively, outperforming Mysuru.
C Narayana Gowda, a member of the Mysuru Airport Advisory Committee, emphasised the need for launching flights to new destinations to reverse the downward trend.
The Mumbai airport will facilitate a total of 951 daily movements, up from approximately 882 in the previous summer schedule of 2023. With over 6,657 movements weekly, there will be a notable 8 per cent surge in weekly flight operations compared to the previous year, benefiting travellers from Mumbai and nearby cities.
The airport’s management is actively working to address the issue. Airport director Anoop JR mentioned ongoing efforts to reconnect Mysuru with cities like Goa, Belagavi, and Kochi. “These routes had previously enjoyed high occupancy rates, often exceeding 80 per cent. The airport has approached airlines with historical data to persuade them to restart these popular services,” he said.
