MANGALURU, 6 JULY

Mangaluru International Airport on Friday has commenced the international cargo operations from its integrated cargo terminal with flight IX 815 ferrying 2,522kg of fruits and vegetables to Abu Dhabi.

The formal launch was done in the presence of the AAHL Cargo team, the leadership team of the Mangaluru International Airport as well as representatives from Customs, Airlines - IndiGo and Air India Express - and Airport Security Group of CISF, they said.

This much-anticipated development comes a little over a year after the airport started domestic cargo operations on 1 May, 2023, officials said.

According to officials, the Commissioner of Customs on 10 May this year had appointed the airport as Custodian as well as a Customs Cargo Service Provider, green signalling the start of international cargo operations.

Working with regulatory authorities and airline partners, the airport, in the interim, vigorously pursued its status as Customs Cargo Service.

The start of international cargo operations will enable exporters from coastal Karnataka and Kerala and the hinterland to export perishables such as fresh fruits and vegetables, food, machine parts, textiles, shoes, tropical fish, frozen and dry fish, plastic colouring material and ship parts (propeller) in the form of belly cargo.

IndiGo and Air India Express with their connectivity will enable exporters to send cargo to Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain. -PTI