Goa's Domestic Airport Count: Is It Enough?

Goa, a small state in western India, is a popular tourist destination known for its pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and colonial architecture. With its lively nightlife, water sports, and unique blend of Indian and Portuguese influences, Goa attracts visitors from all over the world. When it comes to air travel, Goa has two operational airports: Dabolim Airport and Manohar International Airport. Dabolim Airport, located in South Goa, is approximately 30 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji, and offers convenient access to popular tourist destinations in the region. On the other hand, Manohar International Airport, also known as Mopa Airport, is a newer airport situated in North Goa. It aims to improve the accessibility of northern Goa's destinations and provide a more modern and efficient travel experience. Both airports cater to domestic and international flights, making Goa easily reachable for travellers from around the globe.

Dabolim Airport: location, facilities, and connectivity

Goa has two operational airports, one of which is Dabolim Airport, an international airport serving Panaji, the capital of the state of Goa, India. It is located in Dabolim, in the South Goa district, 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) from the nearest city of Vasco da Gama, 23 kilometres (14 miles) from Margao, and about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Panaji.

Dabolim Airport was built in 1955 by the Government of the Estado da Índia Portuguesa on 249 acres (101 hectares) of land. It was originally named Aeroporto de Dabolim and was later officially renamed Aeroporto General Bénard Guedes. The airport is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as a civil enclave in an Indian Navy naval airbase named INS Hansa.

The airport's integrated terminal, designed by Creative Group, an India-based architecture firm, was inaugurated in December 2013. The terminal building handles both international and domestic passengers and is equipped with modern facilities, including eight aerobridges, an in-line baggage scanning system, and a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant. It has 75 check-in counters, 22 immigration counters for departures, 18 immigration counters for arrivals, 14 security check booths, and eight customs counters. The terminal is designed to cater to five million passengers annually and can handle 2,750 peak hour passengers.

In terms of transportation, passengers can reach the airport by taxi, bus, train, or car. Public buses connect the airport to the nearby city of Vasco da Gama and the Chicalim bus stop, which is about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles) from the airport. Local mini-buses also connect Vasco da Gama and Chicalim to the airport. Pre-paid taxis are available at the airport. The nearest railway station is Dabolim railway station, and the port at Mormugao is about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) away.

Manohar International Airport: location, facilities, and connectivity

Goa, a small Indian state in western India, has two operational airports. The first is Dabolim Airport, an international airport built in 1955. The second is the new Manohar International Airport, located at Mopa in Pernem taluka, North Goa district.

The foundation stone for the new airport was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2016. The airport is named after the former Minister of Defence and former Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar. It was built by GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL), a special purpose vehicle, at a cost of ₹3,000 crore (US$370 million). The airport has an area of 2,133 acres and is designed to handle around 100 aircraft movements and about 15,000 passengers daily. It is built under the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) model, with the first phase costing ₹1,500 crore (US$180 million). The airport will operate on a hybrid model with a 30% cross-subsidy.

The airport has an Integrated Passenger Terminal Building, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) building, meteorological facilities, a cargo terminal, ancillary facilities for processing and storage, aircraft rescue and firefighting services, and infrastructure for aviation fuel. It features a 3.5-kilometre runway with Rapid Exit Taxiways.

In terms of connectivity, the airport is situated 8 kilometres east of Dargalim off National Highway 66 (NH-66). A new national highway, NH-166S, was built to directly connect the airport with NH-66 and the rest of the state and neighbouring states. The nearest railway station is Pernem railway station, on the Konkan Railway. State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation operates bus services to the airport from Panaji, Mapusa, and Margao. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Ola Cabs are not yet available at the airport.

Transport options from the airport

Goa has two operational airports: Dabolim Airport, located in South Goa, and the new Manohar International Airport, located in Mopa, North Goa. Both airports offer a range of transport options for travellers to get to their destinations. Here is an overview of the transport options from each airport:

Dabolim Airport (GOI)

Dabolim Airport is approximately 30 kilometres from Panaji, the state capital. It is well-connected by road and offers excellent connectivity to both domestic and international destinations.

• Taxis: Pre-paid taxi services are available at the airport, with fixed prices. Taxis are readily available for transfers to various parts of Goa.
• Rental Cars: Several car rental agencies operate at the airport, providing travellers with the option to rent a car for their transportation needs.
• Buses: Public buses connect the airport to the nearby city of Vasco da Gama, about 4 kilometres away, and also stop at the closer Chicalim bus stop, about 1.5 kilometres from the airport. Local mini-buses also connect Vasco da Gama and Chicalim to the airport.
• Trains: The nearest train station is Dabolim railway station. Konkan Railway provides services to Margao in South Goa, Tivim in North Goa, Carambolim, and Ponda.

Manohar International Airport (GOX)

Manohar International Airport is located in Mopa, about 35 kilometres from Panjim. As a newer airport, it offers modern facilities and is designed to handle a larger volume of passengers.

• Taxis: Pre-paid taxi services are available at the airport, offering fixed prices for transfers to various destinations in Goa.
• Rental Cars and Bikes: Rental car and bike services are available at the airport for travellers who prefer to drive themselves.
• Bus Service: Bus services are available but are limited, and they may not be convenient for all destinations.

Both airports provide convenient transport options for travellers arriving in Goa. The choice of airport depends on your specific destination within Goa, with Dabolim Airport being more suitable for those focusing on South Goa and Manohar International Airport offering easier access to the beaches and nightlife of North Goa.

History of Dabolim Airport

Dabolim Airport, also known as Goa International Airport, is located in the town of Dabolim, approximately 4 km from the city of Vasco Da Gama and about 30 km from Panjim/Panaji, the state capital of Goa. The airport was built in 1955 by the Government of the Estado da India Portuguesa as the Aeroporto de Dabolim. It was later officially renamed Aeroporto General Bénard Guedes.

During the Annexation of Goa, in December 1961, the airport was bombarded by the Indian Air Force, which destroyed parts of its infrastructure. Two civilian planes – a Lockheed Constellation from TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) and a Douglas DC-4 from TAIP (Transportes Aéreos da Índia Portuguesa) – managed to escape with refugees to Karachi during the night. In April 1962, the airport was occupied by the Indian Navy's air wing.

The airport was opened for civilian air travel in 1966 after the runway was repaired and jet-enabled. A new domestic terminal was built in 1983, and an international terminal was constructed in 1996. An upgrade plan was announced in 2006, but it was delayed due to issues with acquiring the required land from the Navy. The new integrated terminal was finally inaugurated in December 2013.

Due to rising passenger traffic, restrictions on night flights, and limited space for expansion, a new airport, Manohar International Airport, was proposed and constructed in Mopa, North Goa. It was inaugurated in December 2022 and began operations in January 2023 to relieve the growing pressure on Dabolim Airport.

Future plans for Mopa Airport

Goa's Mopa Airport, also known as Manohar International Airport, is a new airport in North Goa that officially opened on 11 December 2022. The airport is expected to reduce congestion at the existing Dabolim International Airport, which operates in collaboration with the Indian Navy, leading to restricted commercial operations and airside congestion during peak hours.

Mopa Airport is being developed in four phases, with the first phase designed to accommodate approximately 4.4 million passengers annually. The passenger handling capacity will be gradually increased to 5.8 million in the second phase and then to 9.4 million in the third phase. Upon completion of the fourth and final phase by 2045, the airport will be able to handle 13.1 million passengers per year.

The airport features a single passenger terminal building spread across 700,000 square feet, capable of handling over 1,000 inbound and outbound passengers per hour during peak hours. The runway is designed to accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 777-200 and has two quick departure routes interconnected with taxiways.

To improve connectivity to the airport, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is constructing a 5.15-km-long, six-lane elevated corridor at Porvorim. The airport can be accessed via NH-166S, a six-lane road that connects to NH-66 near Dhargalim village via a trumpet interchange. A six-lane toll plaza is also planned to improve connectivity.

Mopa Airport is owned and developed by GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited. The project is constructed using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) framework and is expected to cost around Rs. 2,870 crores. GGIAL has the rights to operate the airport for 40 years, with the option to extend for another 20 years.

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