Mangaluru airport begins terminal expansion to increase passenger capacity

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 12, 2026: Mangaluru International Airport commenced work on the expansion of its integrated terminal on Wednesday, with the project expected to more than double its annual passenger handling capacity from 2.5 million to 5.2 million by the end of 2029.

According to a statement issued by the airport authorities, the expansion will add 27,100 square metres of built-up area on the eastern side of the existing terminal. The current terminal, which covers 48,574 square metres, will also be modified to accommodate the growing passenger traffic.

The airport handled a record 2.55 million passengers during the 2025-26 financial year, exceeding its originally envisaged annual capacity of approximately two million passengers.

Passenger traffic has increased by nearly 42 per cent over the past three years, rising from 1.79 million in 2022-23. The airport authorities expect passenger numbers to grow at a compound annual rate of around nine per cent, crossing four million by 2030-31.

The expansion project will strengthen passenger-handling infrastructure, including check-in counters, security screening facilities, immigration, baggage handling systems and arrival and departure areas.

The development plan also includes a public viewing gallery that visitors can access after security clearance, along with an open-air recreational area offering views of the airfield and the Gurupura River valley.

A separate multifunctional building is also planned as part of the project. It will accommodate multi-level parking for more than 800 vehicles, office spaces, passenger amenities, food and beverage outlets and recreational facilities.

The building will be connected to the terminal through a dedicated pedestrian bridge equipped with travelators and buggy services.

Airport authorities said the expansion was being undertaken in response to Mangaluru’s growing importance as a commercial, industrial, educational and healthcare hub in the region, along with increasing demand for air travel from coastal Karnataka.

The upgraded infrastructure is expected to improve passenger processing and operational efficiency while catering to the airport’s future traffic requirements.

The terminal expansion project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2029.