The business community and frequent flyers in Belagavi have been left deeply concerned after Star Air decided to stop accepting bookings for its crucial Belagavi–Jaipur and Belagavi–Ahmedabad flights. This move, effective from January 15, comes shortly after the airline withdrew its Mumbai–Belagavi service on December 25. Stakeholders now fear the city is on the brink of losing two more vital regional air links, which could severely hurt trade and regular travel.
Erosion of a Regional Aviation Hub
For decades, Belagavi Airport has been a cornerstone for the industrial and commercial growth of North Karnataka and the bordering areas of Maharashtra and Goa. However, a worrying trend has emerged. Despite a major infrastructure upgrade underway, the airport has seen a steady decline in air services over recent months. This has created widespread anxiety among passengers, industrialists, and trade bodies.
Just a year ago, the airport was well-connected to over a dozen key destinations including Delhi, Pune, Chennai, and Surat. Today, scheduled services are limited to just Bengaluru, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Jaipur, operated by Star Air and IndiGo. The latest decision by Star Air to halt bookings for Jaipur and Ahmedabad has intensified the uncertainty. Sources at the Airport Authorities note that this is happening despite healthy passenger occupancy on these routes.
Business and Economic Repercussions
The impact on local industry is expected to be significant. Belagavi hosts a large industrial estate with thousands of MSMEs and major units in engineering, pharma, auto components, and textiles. Industrialists emphasize that direct air links to commercial hubs like Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata are not a luxury but a necessity for daily operations, client meetings, and maintaining investor confidence.
With flights being pulled, business travellers are increasingly forced to use airports in Hubballi, Goa, or Kolhapur, which are 100 to 150 km away. This diversion leads to substantially higher travel costs, significant time loss, and added physical strain, hampering the region's economic competitiveness.
Expansion Amidst Contraction: An Ironic Twist
In a stark contradiction, the reduction in air services is occurring simultaneously with a major expansion project at Sambra Airport. The foundation for a new terminal building was laid on March 10, 2024, with an estimated cost of Rs 265 crore. Airport director Thyagarajan reported that about 65% of the construction work is complete.
The new terminal will span nearly 20,000 sq m and handle up to 1,400 passengers at once, a massive jump from the current capacity of 300. It will be equipped with 6 check-in counters and parking bays for 3 Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 aircraft. The concern is whether this state-of-the-art infrastructure will have enough flights to justify its scale.
Trade bodies like the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) have escalated the issue. They have submitted representations to ministers and senior officials and plan to approach the Union civil aviation minister. "Despite good passenger numbers, flights are being stopped. This is hurting investors and entrepreneurs the most," said BCCI president Prabhakar Nagaramunnoli.
There is a glimmer of hope, however. Airport director S Thyagarajan mentioned that several other airlines have shown interest in operating services in the now-vacant slots. "We are also approaching multiple airlines and are hopeful that the present uncertainty will not continue for long," he stated, offering some reassurance to the worried business fraternity of Belagavi.
