Mangaluru airport’s domestic air cargo service non-operational

Mangaluru: The domestic air cargo service at the airport here has been shut down from several days due to technical difficulties causing problems in the import of essential medicines.

The matter came to light after a recent report where a private company in Mangaluru had to send medical oxygen to Mumbai urgently but was informed by the airport authorities that there is no air cargo service available.

The company then transported the oxygen on a truck to Bengaluru and sent it to Mumbai.

All goods to be transported by air cargo domestically must be checked at the airport by a scanner. The scanner must be checked and approved by a high-level committee of the airport once a year.

A team of officials has already checked the scanner but has not yet issued the approval letter.

Additionally, the company contracted to manage the air cargo movement at the airport is awaiting the renewal of its contract.

The international air cargo service at the airport is operating unhindered as it has a separate scanner for its operation.

Reacting to this issue, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that he will discuss with the airport officials about the shutdown of the domestic cargo service and will take appropriate action.