Global passengers key to traffic growth at Mangalore airport

[email protected] (THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE)

February 10, 2012

Mangalore, February 10: International passengers have been emerging as the mainstay for the growth of traffic in Mangalore airport.

Though nearly one-third of the Mangalore airport's passenger traffic was contributed by international passengers in 2011, the international traffic went up by only 4.10 per cent during the period.

A notified customs aerodrome, Mangalore airport has connectivity to several destinations in West Asia. However, it is yet to get the international tag. The airport handled 8.47 lakh passengers in 2011 as against 8.22 lakh in 2010.

The share of international passengers to the total passengers increased from 2.36 lakh (constituting 28.77 per cent) in 2010 to 2.46 lakh (29.05 per cent) in 2011.

Mr Rajesh Sequera, Coordinator of the UAE-based Karnataka NRI Forum, attributed the flat growth in international traffic to the connecting flight facilities offered by other airlines. (Air India Express is the only carrier operating direct flights from Mangalore to other destinations in West Asia.)

He told Business Line that now international passengers have started using connecting flights offered by Jet and Kingfisher from centres such as Mumbai and Kozhikode, as they find cost advantage in that.

“Although Air India Express is a low-cost carrier, they charge exorbitantly during seasons. Because of recession, many passengers with family prefer to save money by cutting cost,” he said. The growth in domestic passenger segment was only 2.68 per cent during 2011. The airport handled 6.01 lakh domestic passengers in 2011 as against 5.95 lakh in 2010.

Sources in the aviation sector said here that this was in spite of Kingfisher cancelling its flight to Mumbai from Mangalore. They attribute this growth to the addition of new destinations such as Hyderabad and Chennai by SpiceJet. Otherwise, the growth would have been still lower, they added.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

From Dubai boom to Bengaluru backlash: Inside CJ Roy’s journey

News Network

January 31,2026

Bengaluru: The shooting incident involving CJ Roy, founder of the Confident Group, has once again put the spotlight on a businessman whose life has swung between flamboyant global success and persistent controversy at home.

Though Roy’s business interests extended across continents, his roots lay firmly in Karnataka. An alumnus of Christ School in Bengaluru, he later moved to Tumakuru to pursue an engineering degree. Those familiar with his early years describe him as intensely ambitious, beginning his career as a salesman at a small electronics firm dealing in computers.

Roy’s entry into large-scale real estate came through the Crystal Group, where he worked closely with Latha Namboothiri and rose from manager to director. However, the launch of the Confident Group in 2005 was clouded by industry speculation. Insiders speak of a fallout involving alleged “benami” properties and claims of deception that ultimately led to his independent venture—an episode Roy spent years trying to distance himself from, according to associates.

A tale of two cities

Roy’s professional trajectory diverged sharply across geographies.

In Dubai, he built a reputation as a bold and efficient developer, completing massive luxury residential projects in record time—some reportedly within 11 months. His rapid project delivery and lavish lifestyle in the Emirates earned him admiration and visibility in the real estate sector.

In Bengaluru, however, his image remained far more fractured. Sources say Roy stayed away from the city for several years amid disputes over unpaid dues to vendors and suppliers. Several projects were allegedly stalled, with accusations of unfulfilled commitments to cement and steel suppliers continuing to follow him.

Roy’s return to Bengaluru’s business and social circles began around 2018, marked by a conscious attempt at rebranding. His appointment as Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic added diplomatic legitimacy, which he complemented with visible CSR initiatives, including ambulance donations and high-profile charity events.

Heavy police presence in Langford Town

Following the incident, police personnel from the Central division were deployed outside the Confident Group building in Langford Town, which also houses the Slovak Honorary Consulate in Bengaluru.

The otherwise busy premises near Hosur Road wore a deserted look on Friday, reflecting the shock and uncertainty that followed the tragedy.

Comments