The ambitious and swanky new greenfield airport of Goa called Manohar International Airport (MIA), in honour of the late CM of Goa Manohar Parrikar, is based in one of the northernmost villages of Goa called Mopa. It has been built to ease air passenger traffic flying into Goa, which, until now, had only the Dabolim airport to visit the sunny state.
The Dabolim airport located in South Goa is actually owned by the Indian Navy, whose air station INS Hansa is located there. A civil enclave was graciously shared with the Government of Goa so that the people could have an airport. This also meant that for a couple of hours daily, no flights could take off or land apart from a couple of other restrictions in place.
How is it a greenfield airport?
The Mopa airport has been built keeping sustainability in mind. The green buildings have a solar plant powering the electricals, while rainwater collection ensures rainwater is recycled and does not go to waste. The runway has LED lights and even the sewage treatment plant has recycling capabilities that ensure waste is handled properly.
How to get there?
For locals: The Manohar International Airport is located 35 km from Panjim/Panaji and at a stone’s throw away from the border between Goa and Maharashtra. To get there from the capital city, you have to take NH66 northwards towards Pernem, up to Dhargalim after which the road breaks off towards the Mopa airport.
For tourists: For those who want to catch a flight to or from the new airport, be sure to search for flights with the airport code GOX (instead of GOI which refers to Dabolim airport).
Connectivity and Transport from the Airport
Being new, transport to and from the airport might pose a slight issue. Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) is a state-run bus service that provides hourly commutes to passengers landing at the Manohar International Airport who want to travel to Sinquerim/Candolim, Panjim, and Margao. You can check the timings below.
Jio service works considerably well in the area and can provide you network to book a cab using the Goa Miles app. They also have a counter at the airport when you exit. If you choose to opt for the non-app-based airport taxis, beware that you might get fleeced, especially if you’re travelling all the way down to South Goa. There will soon be blue-coloured taxis plying in the area which are being established to provide income to the locals of Mopa. Once this is in service, I suggest you opt for it.
Flight connectivity
Flight operations began on January 5 of this year, and currently, 3 domestic airlines and 1 international have flights coming into and departing from the new Goa airport. Indigo, Go First (GoAir) and Akasa will connect Goa to 8 Indian cities, namely Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Jaipur. Apart from this, Oman Air will connect Muscat, Oman to Goa.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Since the new airport is located in North Goa, it provides easier access to people wanting to visit the beaches of Baga, Calangute, Vagator, Anjuna, Morjim, etc. So, anyone planning to stay north of or in Panjim can opt to fly into this airport.
Being a small state, you can also land here and travel to South Goa if you’re willing to travel the distance. The Manohar International Airport is 65 km away from Margao, which should take you 1.5-2 hrs depending on traffic, and 100 km from the southernmost village of Canacona, taking you 2.5-3 hrs to traverse. Make sure to plan accordingly.
In Conclusion
I hope this guide gives you all the necessary details for you to have a safe and happy trip to Goa. Let me know your thoughts on the new airport, and if there’s any other information you need, do reach out so that I can help you.