Kingfisher will operate flights from Mumbai to Belgaum

Kingfisher Airlines has decided to resume air flight to Belgaum from Mumbai, after a two year long suspension of flights between the two cities. According to sources, the airlines will operate Mumbai-Belgaum and Belgaum-Mumbai flights everyday starting from January 10. A decision on when to introduce Bengaluru-Belgaum flights is yet to be taken by the airlines company.

People of Belgaum and its surrounding region are increasingly dependent on Mumbai, for business and industry. Recently, a delegation of industrialists and businessmen, under the leadership of MPs from Belgaum, met Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel, demanding the immediate resumption of flights from Belgaum to Bengaluru and Mumbai.Kingfisher Airlines, which had decided to start flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai to Belgaum by December 15, had to postpone them due to some reasons. The Mumbai-Belgaum flight will leave Mumbai at 1.20 pm, and arrive at 2.40 pm in Belgaum. The return flight will leave Belgaum at 3.20 pm, and reach Mumbai at 4.30 pm,sources said. The timing of the flights has been scheduled, based on the convenience of people and industrialists in Belgaum.

A large number of industries in Belgaum district depend on the Mumbai market for raw materials. They are finding it difficult to run their businesses effectively, ever since the flights were suspended about two years ago.For the last two years, we had either to take the Mumbai flights from Kolhapur or Goa, or travel by bus or train. The introduction of flights to Mumbai will give a boost to industrial development on the state’s border,said industrialist Sandeep Patil.

Sources said that Kingfisher Airlines was awaiting approval to start flights to Belgaum, from both the Chennai and Mumbai sectors. However, only Belgaum-Mumbai flights are being introduced following the approval given by the Mumbai sector.The flights to Belgaum from Bangalore will fly only after the Chennai sector gives its clearance. The Chennai sector is in the process of giving clearance, and within some days the Bangalore Belgaum flights would start,sources said.
The state government has provided the needed infrastructure at Belgaum airport, as demanded by the airlines. The up-gradation of the airport is about to be completed, which will allow for the landing of bigger planes as well. According to MP Suresh Angadi, the airport is equipped with all the facilities needed to land any aircraft.