It is over a year since Goa got its second international airport, but there has not been a single international flight that has been able to arrive or depart during the day.
This leads to Vito Gomes, founder and CEO of Aviation Services Management (ASM), asking, “What is the point of having another international airport if we cannot have a flight from the Gulf landing during the day?"
"In order to fly into Goa, I need to leave at night and reach home at around 4 am. I thus loose one working day,” he says.
International flights have restricted timings at Dabolim airport due to Naval regulations. But, international flights not able to have daytime landings at the one-year-old Manohar International Airport, at Mopa, has surprised locals as well as foreigners.
“I am not in a position to tell you why international flights cannot land or depart from the airport. But, I will send you the number of my colleague who will be able to throw light,” states Milind Patidar, PR of the airport.
Incidentally, the number which was then forwarded to us, did not respond to calls.
International flights not able to have daytime landings at the one-year-old Manohar International Airport, at Mopa, has surprised locals as well as foreigners.
“In the olden days, if we wanted a bus to pass through a place, the authorities would comply. Why is it not happening in Goa, when flights can land in Kerala from the world over during the day?” asks Gomes giving a wry smile, as he relaxes at his home in Caranzalem, Panjim.
Ever since the Manohar International Airport was inaugurated in Mopa, people have been embroiled in a debate of whether the Dabolim Airport will survive or not.
But, according to Gomes, “That is not something worth a debate because both will, though Goa could have easily done with one.”
“They (authorities) would not have spent more than Rs 300 crore to refurbish Dabolim if it had no future," says Gomes.
"Both airports will survive. But, the question is whether they will be able to address the need of the locals first, and then, businesses,” reasons Gomes, whose ASM is an aviation service provider that has a fleet of jets, and is a home to all aviation needs, headquartered in Dubai.
“Having two airports would be ok if one could complement the other. We need an airport that can provide auxiliary services. We need an airport that can cater to perishable imports,” argues Gomes, who thinks that despite having two airports, Goa is still on a crawl.
The airport in Dabolim is connected to a sea link, a train station and these links add weight, making its closure improbable for the moment.
“However,” as Gomes sees it, “Goa needs to have hangars for private planes and auxiliary services that come along.”
It is over a year since Goa got its second international airport, but there has not been a single international flight that has been able to arrive or depart during the day.
“When you have hangars for private jets, you need a one-stop shop that has everything for business people of these jets. One needs health facilities, veterinary services and so many other facilities,” suggests Gomes.
And, most of all, he says, Goa would do well to start an aviation academy if it wanted to retain blue-collar jobs for the locals.
“What is the point of having another airport if the State does not have a workforce,” questions Gomes.
That the starting of the Manohar International Airport (MIA) has helped can be gauged when Gomes says, “It takes five days to get permission to land a private craft at Dabolim and a few hours at Mopa, and it includes air ambulances.”
Manohar International Airport started as a problem because it was inaugurated without the infrastructure around the airport being readied.
It takes five days to get permission to land a private craft at Dabolim and a few hours at Mopa, and it includes air ambulances.
Vito Gomes, founder and CEO of Aviation Services Management
“Roads from the airport to South Goa are not ready,” mused Gomes, whilst admitting distances for travellers from South Goa will not be a sore point in the near future.
“Tourism started in Goa in the seventies, and despite having two airports, where are we now? It’s not just airports that matter, but what we have to offer matters and we are failing in that. And, that is why people are choosing to holiday in other Asian countries, and it includes our own Indian tourists,” observes Gomes.
As the interaction winds up, Gomes does not hesitate to admit that his own people need to be pushed and made to realise, “that to stand out, one must be able to walk the extra mile with a smile.”
That could be the first step that could signal the co-existence of two airports in Goa.
