Mangaluru Airport Eyes PoC Status to Boost Global Connectivity.

Stakeholders across coastal Karnataka are urging the state government to grant "Point of Call" (PoC) status to Mangaluru International Airport (MIA). This crucial designation would allow foreign airlines to operate direct flights to and from the city, significantly enhancing its global connectivity.Proponents argue that securing PoC status is essential to unlocking the region's full potential across various sectors, including technology, tourism, education, and healthcare.

Rajesh Acharya, an Udupi native working in Singapore, expressed frustration that Mangaluru Airport is currently operating below its capacity. He advocates for government intervention to encourage Indian carriers to launch new international routes, suggesting a two-year support period to assess their commercial viability. As an alternative, Acharya proposes granting PoC status to empower foreign airlines to service destinations that Indian low-cost carriers might avoid due to financial considerations.

Acharya specifically highlighted the urgent need to improve Mangaluru's connectivity to Southeast Asian destinations, particularly Singapore's Changi Airport. He believes airlines like AirAsia and Scoot could be persuaded to explore this route, given their extensive onward connections to numerous destinations in South Asia, the Far East, and Australia. Such an expansion would allow these carriers to benefit from increased passenger traffic to and from Mangaluru, further integrating the region into the global travel network.