Summary
- Shivamogga Airport, named Kuvempu after a respected poet, had its grand opening delayed due to logistical and security implementations.
- The airport will be operational from August 31st, with the first flight available for booking with IndiGo Airlines.
- The airport will initially handle short-haul domestic flights but has the capacity for international routes in the future.
Shivamogga is one of the larger cities in Karnataka, India. It is a beautiful, verdant region of the country rife with lush rice fields as well as nut and coconut plantations. Shivamogga Airport, built by the Karnataka Government in a public-private partnership, serves the area and sits just under 10km from the city.
RQY: Kuvempu Airport
Shivamogga Airport, named Kuvempu after a highly regarded poet, has had its anticipated grand opening in early August delayed to the 31st of the month to accommodate further logistical and security implementations; "technical reasons" were cited.
Initially set for the 11th, the summer inauguration was pushed back at the behest of the Director General of Civil Aviation's withdrawal of the Bomb Threat Contingency Plan's no-objection certificate on July 18th. Prime Minister Modi visited the site and approved the progress and commencement of commercial ops on February 27th, 2023.
A no-objection certificate is a formal document confirming there is no objection to something. In this case, it would appear as though the BTCP had a flaw or quirk worth ironing out before the official opening. Fortunately, it was spotted in time and while not ideal for passengers hoping for a timely travel itinerary, a safe airport is a good airport.
The first flight to Shivamogga is available to be booked with IndiGo Airlines from August 31st, originating in Bengaluru. Having recently snipped the ribbon for operations at Delhi's new fourth runway, IndiGo is having a celebratory streak of firsts. This will mark IndiGo's 109th destination.
Kuvempu is equipped to handle short-haul domestic operations with facilities for Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family aircraft. As such, national airlines Spice Jet, Star Airlines, and Alliance Airlines have secured permission to fly between Shivamogga and Hyderabad, Tirupati, and Goa. These links will provide invaluable accessibility to the region and enable the city to bolster its stance on the map with links to other urban strongholds.
The airport boasts a runway of 3,200m and even has capacity for international routes operated by wide-body aircraft. However, in the meantime, as airlines find their feet and markets adjust, short-haul routes have been planned well into the future.
It has been revealed that only daytime flights will depart and arrive during the first three months, with plans to extend operating hours under review and soon to be approved.
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Aviation Industry Delays
As expected following a global recession in travel demand, recovery has been steady in places and slow in others. Airlines and airports alike have witnessed incalculable variations to pre-pandemic figures, and with a variety of other factors, including labor shortages and technological advancements, it is no surprise each party has had its own fair share of hurdles.
One example of a long-awaited aviation-related inauguration is the initially-scheduled-for-2017 grand opening of Abu Dhabi's (AUH) midfield terminal. Now, in July six years later, the airport is holding cards close to its chest and one can only speculate about a potential grand opening on the UAE's national day of December 2nd. Continuously pushed back, the onset of the pandemic certainly hindered the swanky terminal's reveal and hampered any attempts to boldly publicize it.
Etihad Airways partnered with Paramount Pictures to feature heavily in the new Mission: Impossible film and a Boeing 787 was emblazoned with an M:I sticker to aid in marketing. A sneak peek of the terminal was included in the picture and aviators are salivating the world over.
As more cities open up to growing international interest, expansion will continue across the industry. Shivamogga joins a host of airports in the Karnataka state with links to major hubs across India, from which passengers may connect onwards throughout extensive networks and take advantage of illustrious airline partnerships and amenities.
Air India recently placed a groundbreaking order for new long-haul aircraft. As the country emerges as an aviation superpower, Shivamogga's inhabitants and any tourists visiting are sure to utilize growing links and opportunities.