Mangalore International Airport (IATA: IXE, ICAO: VOML) (also known as Mangaluru International Airport) is an international airport serving the coastal city of Mangalore in the state of Karnataka, India. It is one of only two international airports in the state, the other being Kempegowda International Airport in the capital city of Bengaluru. Mangalore International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the state. In addition to domestic destinations, flights depart daily for major cities in the Middle East. The airport was named Bajpe Aerodrome, when it opened on 25 December 1951 by the former and First Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who arrived on a Douglas DC-3 aircraft.