<p>Even after an year of the air cargo complex at Mangalore International Airport (MIA) commencing its operation, the facility has failed to attract the entrepreneurs and as a result, the MIA has not been able to recover the operating cost, let alone gaining profit.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Air Cargo Complex which was built owing to the demand of the entrepreneurs and local business organisations, was expected to boost the export scenario in Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring districts. Though the air cargo was officially inaugurated in March 2013, it began operating on May 1, 2013. However, the transportation of the consignments resumed only in September, after the monsoon receded. Nine months have passed, yet the MIA has not seen an upsurge in handling the export cargo. <br /><br />250 tonnes of capacity<br /><br />The air cargo, having the capacity to handle 250 tonnes of export cargo per month, is at present handling less than 40 tonnes of export cargo and 20 tonnes of import cargo. The cargo handled in Mangalore Airport largely comprises of fruits and vegetables which are exported to West Asia. <br /><br />A small quantity of fish and spare parts too is exported in the aircraft. But, the lukewarm response from the entrepreneurs has become a matter of concern to the Airport authority and to the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which had demanded for air cargo facility in MIA. <br /><br />Analysing the reasons for lack of response, KCCI President Mohammad Ameen said that issues related to paying customs duty is one of the factors affecting the cargo. “It is not that entrepreneurs are not interested to export through air cargo, but that they are facing certain obstacles in the process. <br /><br />With no system in place to remit the customs duty at the Mangalore Airport, the agents are forced to go to the Customs House at Panambur to pay the charges, much to their inconvenience. Issues in giving license for sea food export too has become an hindrance,” he told Deccan Herald.<br /><br />The limited capacity of the flights to handle cargo is another factor affecting the process. At times when the entrepreneurs are ready with the cargo to export, the passenger flights lack space to carry the goods. <br /><br />The flights need to allocate more space to carry the cargo, he said, hoping for cooperation from all the departments concerned to draw the exporters.<br /><br />Feeder arrangement<br /><br />Mangalore International Airport Director J T Radhakrishna too admitted that cargo handling has not been upto the mark. <br /><br />“We were expecting to handle at least 200 tonnes of cargo in the airport, but the response from exporters has not been encouraging and we are unable to recover the running charges. On an average, five flights fly from MIA to West Asia everyday and each flight can at the maximum accommodate cargo upto 1.5 tonnes. <br /><br />At present, only Jet Airways has made arrangements to transport the cargo and talks are on with Air India on the same,” J T Radhakrishna said.<br /><br />The Airport Director urged the entrepreneurs to explore new avenues and export the goods in demand to USA and Europe through feeder arrangement. The exporters should tie-up with agencies in Gulf airlines and transport their goods to European countries.<br /><br />On introducing exclusive cargo aircraft in MIA, he said that could be made possible only if the KCCI assures of arranging 40 to 60 tonnes of cargo every week.<br /></p>
<p>Even after an year of the air cargo complex at Mangalore International Airport (MIA) commencing its operation, the facility has failed to attract the entrepreneurs and as a result, the MIA has not been able to recover the operating cost, let alone gaining profit.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Air Cargo Complex which was built owing to the demand of the entrepreneurs and local business organisations, was expected to boost the export scenario in Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring districts. Though the air cargo was officially inaugurated in March 2013, it began operating on May 1, 2013. However, the transportation of the consignments resumed only in September, after the monsoon receded. Nine months have passed, yet the MIA has not seen an upsurge in handling the export cargo. <br /><br />250 tonnes of capacity<br /><br />The air cargo, having the capacity to handle 250 tonnes of export cargo per month, is at present handling less than 40 tonnes of export cargo and 20 tonnes of import cargo. The cargo handled in Mangalore Airport largely comprises of fruits and vegetables which are exported to West Asia. <br /><br />A small quantity of fish and spare parts too is exported in the aircraft. But, the lukewarm response from the entrepreneurs has become a matter of concern to the Airport authority and to the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which had demanded for air cargo facility in MIA. <br /><br />Analysing the reasons for lack of response, KCCI President Mohammad Ameen said that issues related to paying customs duty is one of the factors affecting the cargo. “It is not that entrepreneurs are not interested to export through air cargo, but that they are facing certain obstacles in the process. <br /><br />With no system in place to remit the customs duty at the Mangalore Airport, the agents are forced to go to the Customs House at Panambur to pay the charges, much to their inconvenience. Issues in giving license for sea food export too has become an hindrance,” he told Deccan Herald.<br /><br />The limited capacity of the flights to handle cargo is another factor affecting the process. At times when the entrepreneurs are ready with the cargo to export, the passenger flights lack space to carry the goods. <br /><br />The flights need to allocate more space to carry the cargo, he said, hoping for cooperation from all the departments concerned to draw the exporters.<br /><br />Feeder arrangement<br /><br />Mangalore International Airport Director J T Radhakrishna too admitted that cargo handling has not been upto the mark. <br /><br />“We were expecting to handle at least 200 tonnes of cargo in the airport, but the response from exporters has not been encouraging and we are unable to recover the running charges. On an average, five flights fly from MIA to West Asia everyday and each flight can at the maximum accommodate cargo upto 1.5 tonnes. <br /><br />At present, only Jet Airways has made arrangements to transport the cargo and talks are on with Air India on the same,” J T Radhakrishna said.<br /><br />The Airport Director urged the entrepreneurs to explore new avenues and export the goods in demand to USA and Europe through feeder arrangement. The exporters should tie-up with agencies in Gulf airlines and transport their goods to European countries.<br /><br />On introducing exclusive cargo aircraft in MIA, he said that could be made possible only if the KCCI assures of arranging 40 to 60 tonnes of cargo every week.<br /></p>