In our series on playing with the Bangalore analogue to get Mopa right, here is a telling comment in TOI (Blr) which we may need to pay heed to. In an article "Will [Infosys mentor] Murthy come back on board of BIAL?" it says '"Murthy was on the board when the company had a different standing. Forcefully shutting down HAL airport for commercial operations, **to open one which has nothing international about it**, has irked the public, and Murthy may not want to be associated with it," said sources.' http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Will_Murthy_come_back_on_board_of_ BIAL/rssarticleshow/3319744.cms The bit about opening an airport which has nothing international about it could be hype as far as Blr is concerned but it could well be the story at Mopa. We have already observed that chartered flights to Goa may not be more than a handful a day that too only during the season. The scheduled international flights are sporadic and mainly with the PSU carrier(s) flying to Gulf (which are on again and off again from what we can tell). Then there is the recent hearsay about diverting international flights from Mumbai to Mopa. Which would these be if they are to carry only flyers who want to travel to/from Goa? It is ridiculous to plan for an international airport off the bat at Mopa. It can only grow into one over a decade or two. Will this ever get into the heads of our "bumble" ministers and the soon to be appointed Mopa airport steering committee?
