Mangalore International Airport (IATA: IXE, ICAO: VOML) (formerly Bajpe Airport) is a domestic and international airport serving the coastal city of Mangalore, India. The airport was opened in 1951 as the Bajpe Aerodrome and the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru arrived on the maiden flight. In 2007-08 the airport handled 10,019 aircraft movements as compared to 6,268 the previous year.The airport is located near Bajpe, around 20 km (12 mi) north-east of the city centre. Several daily flights connect Bajpe with most major cities in southern and western India as well as many major cities in the Middle East. Until 2005, its small 1,600 m (5,249 ft) runway meant that it could only handle Boeing 737-sized aircraft; slightly larger aircraft can now be handled. Kingfisher Airlines operates short-haul flights from Bajpe Airport using ATR 72-500 aircraft's.The operation of international flights started in 2006 with Air-India Express flying to Dubai. While currently the airport has the status of a customs aerodrome, it is likely to get international status in the near future after the addition of the required infrastructure.