Mangaluru Airport terminal expansion work has begun with the airport targeting a more than twofold increase in annual passenger-handling capacity, from the present 25 lakh passengers to 52 lakh within the next three years. The foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed expansion was held on Wednesday, according to a report by Prajavani – Dakshina Kannada.
The expansion will add 27,100 square metres to the eastern side of the existing terminal. The enlarged facility is planned to include additional space and infrastructure for check-in, security screening, immigration, baggage handling, arrivals and departures.
Mangaluru International Airport handled 25.5 lakh passengers during 2025–26, the report said. Passenger traffic has been growing at an annual rate of 9%, and the airport has estimated that the total could cross 40 lakh by 2030–31. The planned capacity increase is intended to respond to this growth and provide additional operational headroom.
The expanded terminal is expected to use modern technology and upgraded infrastructure. The airport said the project would improve operational efficiency for airlines while providing greater convenience to passengers. The available announcement did not specify the number of additional gates, the project cost or the financing structure.
The plan also includes a multipurpose building with multilevel parking for more than 800 vehicles, modern office space, food and beverage outlets and entertainment facilities. These additions will expand the airport’s supporting commercial and passenger-service infrastructure alongside the main terminal facilities.
The project’s scale reflects the changing role of Mangaluru Airport in the wider coastal Karnataka region. Rising passenger volumes place pressure not only on terminal processing areas but also on access roads, parking, baggage systems, security infrastructure and ground transport connections. The reported plan directly addresses several of the airport’s internal capacity requirements, although the supplied announcement does not provide details about related improvements outside the terminal campus.
The three-year target for increasing capacity to 52 lakh passengers is higher than the traffic level currently being recorded. The airport’s reported 25.5 lakh passengers in 2025–26 and 9% annual growth estimate indicate that demand is increasing, while the separate projection of more than 40 lakh passengers by 2030–31 provides the basis cited for the expansion. The final capacity figure will depend on the completion and commissioning of the planned facilities.
The airport expects the expansion project to be completed by the end of 2029. Further details on construction stages, operational arrangements during the works and the project’s cost were not included in the published announcement.
