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Summary:

Industrial and trade bodies in Belagavi, India, are urging the Union government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to prevent a reduction in flights operating from Belagavi Airport. The Belagavi Cloth Merchants Association (BCMA) and the Traders Forum met with the airport director to express their concerns about the negative impact reduced air connectivity would have on trade, commerce, education, and investment. They are requesting the restoration of all 13 UDAN routes sanctioned in 2019, highlighting the city’s strong passenger demand. While the airport director assured cooperation, uncertainty surrounds the future of specific routes, particularly those operated by Star Air to Jaipur. Star Air has confirmed that it is accepting bookings for the Belagavi–Ahmedabad route from January 15.

News Article:

Belagavi Businesses Fight to Maintain Airport Flight Routes

Belagavi, India – January 3, 2026 – Concerns are mounting among business leaders in Belagavi as potential flight reductions at Belagavi Airport threaten to disrupt the region’s economic growth. Members of various industrial and trade bodies, including the Belagavi Cloth Merchants Association (BCMA) and the Traders Forum, have voiced their worries to the Union government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The groups met with Airport Director S. Thiyagrajan to implore AAI to intervene against the proposed reduction in flight services. They emphasized that decreased air connectivity would negatively impact trade, commerce, industry, education, and investment within Belagavi.

“Belagavi has demonstrated a consistent and strong demand for air travel,” said Satish Tendulkar, president of BCMA. “We urge authorities to restore the 13 UDAN routes sanctioned in 2019 immediately.”

In 2019, Belagavi was a major beneficiary of the UDAN scheme, receiving 13 sanctioned routes, connecting the city directly to 15 destinations.

While the Airport Director assured the delegation of his support and committed to working with stakeholders to restore connectivity, concerns persist regarding specific routes. Star Air, which operates flights to several key destinations, had initially created uncertainty by not showing open bookings for the Jaipur route beyond January 15th, though the Belagavi–Ahmedabad route is still running. The situation remains fluid, with local businesses closely monitoring developments that could affect the region’s economic future.

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