Belagavi’s Air Connectivity Nightmare: SaveIXG Again

The city that once raised its voice — first in 2018 with SaveIXG, then again in 2022 — faces yet another cruel twist in 2025–26 as its air connectivity crumbles yet again, forcing travellers to divert to other cities to reach destinations that should be accessible from Belagavi Airport (IXG).

Once a thriving regional link, Belagavi’s airport — the lifeline of business, education, healthcare travel and family connectivity — has been weakened despite relentless citizen pressures.

The Latest Blow: Loss of Direct Mumbai Connectivity

From December 25, 2025, the city woke up to stark reality: Star Air has suspended its direct Belagavi–Mumbai flight, shifting operations instead to Nanded. This was the only non-stop service linking IXG with India’s financial capital, critical for business travellers, family visits, and onward international connections.

With Star Air dropping the Belagavi–Mumbai flight from December 25, the city is now left with just five direct connections — Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. For a city of Belagavi’s size, economic activity and strategic importance, this is not just a reduction in flights; it is a direct blow to mobility, business confidence and public convenience.

Mumbai — the most economically essential destination — is no longer served directly from Belagavi. Passengers bound for India’s financial and commercial capital, or for international connecting flights, are now compelled to first travel to Goa, Hubli before flying on. This is more than inconvenient — it is regressive.

Civic Efforts, Campaigns, and the Failure of Representation

Belagavi proudly led SaveIXG in 2018 — a campaign that united citizens, business chambers, and travellers to avert loss of air connectivity. The city did it again in 2022, lifting hopes that representation and pressure could secure stable routes. But here we are in 2025–26, repeating the same fight — despite continued citizen effort.

Where are our elected representatives? Nowhere to be seen. Every time connectivity suffers, office-holders remain silent until citizens, businessmen, and civil society raise the alarm — a tactic with limited reach and impact, especially compared with institutional advocacy that should be driven by officials representing Belagavi.

This is not a minor inconvenience. Restricted air connectivity undermines tourism, weakens economic competitiveness, slows industry growth, and forces people to endure higher travel costs and logistical burdens.

A Legacy of Neglect — But Not of Silence

For decades, Belagavi has endured imbalance and neglect in infrastructure priorities. Roads, public services and even air links have lagged behind when measured against comparable cities. Yet, this city never folded. It fought alone, time and again, pushing back against administrative inertia and indifferent governance.

Citizens raised their voices. Businesses funded ads. Campaigns trended. But without consistent political backing and structural policy support, these efforts have amounted to temporary patches, not permanent solutions.

Now, with the city’s prime gateway to the sky compromised yet again, Belagavi must confront a stark truth: the struggle for connectivity will not end unless its representatives make it a sustained priority — not a once-in-a-while PR exercise.

SaveIXG: A Campaign That Refuses to Die

This is not the first time Belagavi has been forced to fight for its skies.

• 2018: When SpiceJet abruptly discontinued its services from Belagavi and diverted them to Hubballi, public anger spilled onto the streets and social media. That anger turned into action.
• The Save IXG campaign was born — not from political corridors, but from citizens, associations and businesses.
• The movement gathered momentum, reached the political class, and eventually led to new routes, new airlines and UDAN connectivity for Belagavi.
• 2022 saw the campaign resurface again as flight instability returned.

Now, as we approach 2026, the signs are worryingly familiar.

Belagavi deserves more than sporadic campaigns. The city needs:

1. Dedicated representation in Parliament and state legislature that consistently champions IXG connectivity.
2. Strategic inclusion in UDAN or similar long-term aviation policy frameworks.
3. Public-private partnerships to secure stable airline commitments.
4. Transparent progress tracking that residents can hold officials accountable for.

The Save IXG movement may once again have to rise, not because people enjoy protesting, but because history has shown that this is the only language that seems to work.

If the “aam nagrik” is expected to fly, if businesses are expected to grow, if Belagavi is expected to compete — then IXG must have adequate, stable and meaningful air connectivity.

Until then, the city will keep doing what it has always done best:

Fight alone. Fly later. SaveIXG