In this article, we will talk about IndiGo airlines starting operations from Shivamogga Airport. On the other hand, the airline is looking to abandon Kadapa Airport in Andhra Pradesh. Stay tuned.
IndiGo launches Shivamogga ops
India’s leading airline, IndiGo has started flying from Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport to Shivamogga Kuvempu Airport. The airline with effect from August 31 is operating daily flights using the ATR 72-600. Shivamogga is the latest Greenfield Airport inaugurated by the honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. IndiGo is the launch operator with other airlines expected to start operations soon.
The construction work of the International airport started in April 2011. But the project could not proceed because of feud between the contractor partners. In 2020, former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa started the project work again. On 27th February 2023, the airport was inaugurated by PM Modi after which flight schedule was released by IndiGo in August month.
Kadapa to be abandoned
But all airports do not have the same story. On one hand, when an airport is getting its maiden flight with IndiGo, another airport will soon get its final flight by IndiGo. Kadapa Airport is an airport located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Earlier, TruJet used this airport as its main hub. But after the airline suspended its operations in 2022, IndiGo remained the only airline with 100% monopoly at Kadapa Airport.
IndiGo is currently connecting Kadapa to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Chennai. But the airline will cease all this services with effect from October 15. The reason behind this is that State Government has failed to provide the airline with Viability Gap Funding (VGF), which is necessary for UDAN routes.
As a result of this, the contract between AP Airports Development Corporation Limited and IndiGo is now breached, forcing IndiGo to shut down all operations from Kadapa and abandon the airport. As IndiGo is the only airline operating out of Kadapa, the airport will lose overall connectivity.
Source Credits : JetArena
