2010 Dasara Mysore, mysooru, karnataka, india

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Mysore placed on commercial air map of India

The refurbished Mysore Aiport is now placed on the air map of India with introduction of commercial flights.

Mandakalli Airport

A Kingfisher Airlines ATR-72 landed at the revamped airport, the famous Chamundi Hills providing a beautiful backdrop, on September 30. The maiden flight flew to Mysore the first batch of passengers. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Airlines Chairman and MP Vijay Malya were among them. The plane was given a ceremonial aviation welcome—a “water salute” – by fire tenders. The first return flight took off to Bangalore from the aiport the same day.

The modernisation of the Mandakalli airport was completed on September 15, 2009 and was formally inaugurated in June 2010 by the Chief Minister. Mysoreans eagerly awaited its commercial operation during 2009 Dasara. However, it had to wait till the current Dasara. The airport, lying on the Mysore-Ooty highway, has now become accessible for passengers between Mysore and Bangalore. It provides onward link to other major cities.

The airport is modernised by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) at a cost of Rs. 60 crore Kingfisher’s IT 2404 departs from Bangalore at noon and arrives at Mysore at 12.45 pm. From Mysore, flight IT 2407 takes off at 2.20 pm and arrives at 3.10 pm in Bangalore. The direct flight will offer travelers from Mysore a one-stop connection to and from State capitals and other cities including New Delhi.

AAI had taken up the development of Mysore Airport for ATR-72 type aircraft operations in Phase I. Accordingly, it has completed construction of the runway 09/27 of dimension 1740m x 30m, apron and link taxiway with associated facilities in March 2008 suited for short haul ATR-72 aircraft operation with a passenger capacity of 60-70. The terminal is spread over 3,250 sq. m. and can handle 150 to 200 passengers at a time Construction of terminal building, technical block-cum- control tower, fire station, etc. was completed in March 2010.

First Commercial Flight to Mysore However, the Rs. 140 crore second phase of the project which includes upgradation of the airport with apron, setting up of air traffic control, meteorological department and upgrading the terminus is yet to be taken up. When this project is completed, the airport will be able to operate Airbus 320 and Boeing 737.

Built during the reign of Mysore Maharajas, the Mandakalli airstrip was handling chartered Dakotas bringing top dignitaries like Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhai Patel and Rajendra Prasad and foreign tourists from Bangalore HAL Airport . It was also being used by the Mysore rulers. A leading English daily of Chennai was sending its newspaper bundles in a special flight for a couple of months. A Vayudut feeder service introduced in mid-80s was given up later because of poor patronage.

The airport was defunct subsequently.

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