PANJIM: The standoff between the State government and taxi operators remains unresolved even as the first commercial flight is scheduled to land at the Manohar International Airport (MIA), Mopa, on Thursday.
However, the unease for passengers doubles up as the air fares for flying to and from MIA have witnessed a nominal increase as compared to the Dabolim Airport.
The air fares for flying to and from the Manohar International Airport (Mopa airport) have witnessed a nominal increase as compared to Dabolim airport. While flying out of Goa from both the airports may cost almost the same, flying into the State may cost 10 to 50 per cent higher on the eve of Republic Day holiday.
When searched for flight bookings online, the fares for flying to Mopa showed an upward trend. Mumbai-Goa bound airfare was the costliest as the fares showed higher rates to land at Mopa compared to Dabolim. Airfare from Mumbai to Dabolim is Rs 3,534 compared to the one landing at Mopa which costs Rs 5,286. Flight coming from Delhi to Dabolim is Rs 7,745 which is about 10 per cent cheaper to the one landing at Mopa, will cost Rs 8,247. The fares for Goa to Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru flights show a nominal difference of pricing.
The maiden flight originating from Hyderabad will land at Manohar International Airport at 9 am on Thursday. The Mopa airport is about 35-km (an hour’s drive) from Panjim, and approximately 100-km which is a two-and-a-half hour drive from South Goa. Assagao and Saligao are both 20-odd kilometre or 45-minute drive away; Vagator and Anjuna are a little further down, approximately 25-km or 50 minutes away. Colva in the South is 64-km, nearly two hours from the new airport.
Along with shelling out more money for air ticket, the passengers will also have to pay for travelling to their destinations like Panjim and South Goa from the Mopa airport.
