Belagavi and Hubballi emerged as significant hubs for air travel, while others like Kalaburagi and Mysuru experienced declined operations.
Published Jul 17, 2024 | 8:24 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 18, 2024 | 1:33 PM
Vijayapura airport likely to be inaugurated by the end of 2024. (Raju Davalagi)
Karnataka’s domestic airports have exhibited a mix of resilience and fluctuating growth with some airports showcasing remarkable increases in passenger traffic while others faced declines.
Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, airports like Belagavi and Hubballi emerged as significant hubs for air travel, while others like Kalaburagi and Mysuru experienced declined operations.
Meanwhile, the newly commissioned Shivamogga airport is showing signs of progress, and upcoming airports in Hassan, Raichur, and Ballari are expected to enhance air connectivity and boost economic growth in the state.
However, the construction works are going on at a snail’s pace.
At the same time, Vijayapura Airport is likely to be open to the public by the end of 2024. The Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) has already finished 80 percent of the construction works of the airport.
However, the non-operational status of the Bidar airport remains a concern as the flight operations remained suspended since December 2023.
The Belagavi Airport is leading the air travel operations in the state, followed closely by the Hubballi airport, and newer additions like the Shivamogga airport are also showing promising growth.
Belagavi Airport
The Belagavi Airport is the busiest of the five domestic airports in the state, operating 18 flights daily. A record 1,050 passengers travel through the airport daily, making it a significant hub for air travel in the region.
Even though the airport experienced a decrease of 6.6 percent in passenger traffic of 2,76,308 from 2019-2020 to 2,58,038 in 2020-2021, there was an increase of 8.6 percent in 2021-2022 (2,80,016).
In the following years, the airport continued to experience growth, with an increase of 6.4 percent from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023, and another increase of 5.1 percent from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024, with passenger numbers rising from 2,80,016 to 2,97,905 and then to 3,12,447, respectively.
Hubballi Airport
The Hubballi Airport operates 12 flights daily, with an average count of 820 passengers.
It experienced a significant decrease of 74.9 percent in passenger traffic from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021, with a drop from 4,75,218 to 1,19,072 passengers.
However, there was a notable increase of 58.1 percent from 2020-2021 to 2021-2022, with passenger numbers rising from 1,19,072 to 1,88,242.
The airport continued to experience growth, with an increase of 71.4 percent from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023, and another increase of 11.2 percent from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024, with passenger numbers rising from 1,88,242 to 3,22,701 and then to 3,58,835, respectively.
Kalaburagi Airport
With 150 passengers, the Kalaburagi Airport operates six flights daily.
The airport saw a remarkable increase of 363.5 percent in passenger traffic from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021, with a surge from 13,244 to 61,449 passengers.
There was another significant increase of 39.1 percent from 2020-2021 to 2021-2022, with passenger numbers rising from 61,449 to 85,371.
However, the airport experienced a decrease of 7.3 percent from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023, with passenger numbers dropping from 85,371 to 79,143.
Unfortunately, there was another decrease of 30.6 percent from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024, with passenger numbers dropping from 79,143 to 54,862.
Mysuru Airport
The Mysuru Airport operates four flights daily, with approximately 250 passengers travelling every day.
The airport saw a significant decrease of 40.9 percent in passenger traffic from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021, with a drop from 84,690 to 1,43,288 passengers. These two fiscal years were marred by Covid-19.
However, there was a notable increase of 23.3 percent from 2020-2021 to 2021-2022, with passenger numbers rising from 1,04,406 to 84,690.
The airport experienced another significant increase of 80.2 percent from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023, with passenger numbers surging from 1,04,406 to 1,88,296.
Unfortunately, there was a decrease of 32.2 percent from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024, with passenger numbers dropping from 1,88,296 to 1,27,994.
Shivamogga Airport
Commissioned only in 2023, the Shivamogga Airport operates eight flights daily, with 260 passengers.
The airport saw its first passengers, with a total of 39,040 travellers so far.
Meanwhile, in a bid to enhance air connectivity and boost economic growth, the Karnataka government announced plans to develop new greenfield airports in three districts — Hassan, Raichur, and Ballari.
Additionally, the construction work of Vijayapura airport is on the verge of completion and is expected to become operational by the year-end, further expanding the state’s aviation infrastructure.
Vijayapura Airport
The state government headed by former chief minister BS Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the construction of the airport in February 2021.
The airport is being developed by the KSIIDC on 727 acres of land near Madhabavi village at an estimated cost of ₹220 crore.
In the groundbreaking ceremony, the then-state government promised to make it operational by 2023. However, the construction works are yet to be completed.
Earlier, the KSIIDC had envisaged developing a greenfield airport, permitting only to operate ATR-72 aircraft. In the middle of the project, the state government upgraded the airport for the operation of bigger flights like Airbus-320 by allocating an additional ₹127.92 crore.
“The airport construction works started in 2022 and typically takes 24-30 months to complete, but we have completed all the engineering works and are now installing equipment,” Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister MB Patil told South First.
“We had to procure security and fire services equipment from foreign vendors, which takes 12-18 months for delivery, as these are not available in India. We expect to receive all equipment soon.”
“After installation, we will undergo mandatory regulatory inspections such as BCAS, DGCA and Aviation safety, and once cleared, we will inaugurate and commission the airport for regular operation. We are expecting to complete all these works within the next few weeks,” stated Patil.
Hassan Airport
A greenfield airport is being developed on a vast 536 acres of land at an estimated cost of ₹175 crore near Boovanahalli village near Hassan.
When BS Yediyurappa was at the helm in 2021, the Hassan airport was taken up under the UDAN scheme. He also allocated ₹196 crore in the fiscal budget in 2021.
Hassan DC Sathyabhama C told South First: “The Hassan airport works is expected to finish only in 2025. The construction works including the terminal and control tower are underway, while the runway has already been developed.”
“Importantly, we have acquired the land. The KSIIDC is yet to take over it. With the ongoing pace, the airport works are not likely to culminate within the stipulated time,” stated the Hassan DC.
Raichur Airport
The construction work for the greenfield airport has begun in the outskirts of the Raichur city. The KSIIDC is developing the airport in around 400 acres of land at an estimated cost of ₹185.57 crore.
Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) has prepared a detailed project report for this airport and submitted it to the government.
“We are waiting for approval of the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation for site clearance. However, the airport construction work has already started,” Patil told the South First.
Ballari Airport
Though the works of the Ballari airport took off in 2010 at the state government level, the construction works are yet to begin.
The airport is planned to build an airport on 987 acres of land near Chaganur in Ballari.
The then BJP government handed over the construction works to ‘MARG’, a Chennai-based company, in 2010. However, the contract was terminated due to a delay in starting the work.
“Due to the non-commencement of the construction works by MARG company, the contract has been cancelled. The works have been entrusted to KSIIDC,” Patil said.
“KSIIDC is in the process of appointing consultants for preparations of a DPR (Detailed Project Report). KSIIDC is in the final stage of the selection process through competitive bidding under the KTPP act,” he added.
Despite having the necessary infrastructure, the Bidar Airport remained non-functional for the past seven months, with all flight operators suspending their services.
The airport was initially selected under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) or UDAAN initiative in 2020, with flight operations commencing on 7 February, 2020.
As per the Regional Connectivity Schemes (RCS) guidelines, the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for aircraft operations was only valid for three years, until 6 February, 2023.
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the flight period was extended till 3 December, 2023, including the period of suspended flight services.
Subsequently, airline operators stopped operations from 26 December, 2023, leading to the non-operational status at the airport.
“The initial three-year funding period had already ended, and the extended period also came to an end, resulting in the suspension of flight services,” the minister said adding that efforts are being made to resume operations in the Bidar airport.
“The Union government used to provide subsidy for 50 percent seats in those flights that had fixed tariffs. After the RCS scheme was stopped, the Union government stopped providing subsidies,” Bidar MP Sagar Khandre told South First.
“We have also given a proposal to the chief minister to provide funds from the state to make the airport operational. I will continue efforts to resume operations at the earliest,” assured the first-time parliamentarian.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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