Trade Bodies Flag Air Connectivity Crisis; AAI Assures Support

Amid growing concern over the sharp reduction in air services from Belagavi from January 15, 2026, a delegation of the Belagavi Cloth Merchants Association (BCMA) and the Traders Forum, Belagavi met Shri S. Thiyagrajan, Airport Director, Airports Authority of India, to seek urgent intervention. The delegation, led by BCMA President and office-bearers, highlighted the serious impact that shrinking air connectivity would have on trade, commerce, industry, education, and investment in the region. They urged authorities to immediately restore services on the 13 UDAN routes sanctioned in 2019, stressing that Belagavi has consistently demonstrated strong passenger demand and commercial viability. During the interaction, Shri Subhash Patil, Senior Superintendent (Technical), briefed members on the progress and operational planning of the new terminal building, explaining the phased transition and allied facilities. Responding to the concerns, Airport Director Shri S. Thiyagrajan assured the delegation of full cooperation and support, stating that efforts would be made to work with stakeholders to restore Belagavi airport’s connectivity and revive its earlier stature. Trade bodies reiterated that improved air links are essential for Belagavi’s role as Karnataka’s second capital and a fast-growing Smart City, and expressed hope for swift, positive action in the coming weeks. Passenger Traffic Growth – Evidence of Demand Passenger Movement (2020–2025): YearPassengers20202,49,47820213,05,78420223,17,50920232,74,34520243,47,207 (Highest)20252,83,935 Air Connectivity: Then and Now With the announcement of UDAN 3.0 routes on 25 January 2019, Belagavi emerged as one of the most favoured cities in the scheme, with 13 routes sanctioned—the highest for any city at the time. Subsequently, Belagavi was directly connected to 15 cities, including 12 non-stop destinations and 3 one-stop connections. Non-stop Flights (Earlier) Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai (2 flights) Hyderabad (2 flights) Ahmedabad Surat Pune Nagpur Jodhpur Nashik (Ozar) Indore Tirupati One-stop Connections Kalaburagi (via Tirupati) Kishangarh (via Surat) Nashik (via Pune) UDAN Routes Sanctioned to Belagavi (Operated by IndiGo, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, TruJet, and Star Air, subject to operational status) Out of the sanctioned routes, several were suspended due to airline-specific issues. However, overall connectivity remained robust and economically viable.