View source for Belgaum Airport

{{short description|Airport in Belgaum, Karnataka, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = Belgaum Airport
| image               = Belagavi Airport.jpg
| caption             = 
| IATA                = IXG
| ICAO                = VOBM
| type                = Public
| owner-oper          = 
| owner               = 
| operator            = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| city-served         = [[Belgaum]]
| location            = [[Sambra]], Belgaum, [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
| opened              = {{start date and age|1942|||df=y|p=n|br=n}}
| hub                 = [[Star Air (India)|Star Air]]
| elevation-f         = 2489'
| elevation-m         = 758
| coordinates         = {{Coord|15|51|33|N|74|37|03|E|type:airport_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| website             = [https://www.aai.aero/en/node/77581 Belgaum Airport]
| pushpin_map         = India Karnataka#India
| pushpin_label       = '''IXG'''
| pushpin_mapsize     = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Karnataka
| r1-number           = 08/26
| r1-length-f         = 7,546
| r1-length-m         = 2,300
| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| stat-year           = January 2024 - March 2025
| stat1-header        = Passengers
| stat1-data          = 429,755
| stat2-header        = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data          = 6,789 
| stat3-header        = Cargo tonnage
| stat3-data          = 30.7
| footnotes           = Source: [[Airports Authority of India|AAI]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure III – Passenger Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex3.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=28 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex2.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=28 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex4.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=28 April 2025}}</ref>
}}

'''Belgaum Airport''' {{airport codes|IXG|VOBM}}, also known as '''Belagavi Airport''', is a [[domestic airport]] serving [[Belgaum]], [[Karnataka]]. The current integrated terminal building was inaugurated by the then [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Minister of Civil Aviation]], [[Ashok Gajapathi Raju]] on 14 September 2017.<ref name="BS1">{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/upgraded-Belgaum-airport-inaugurated-117091401645_1.html | title=Upgraded Belgaum airport inaugurated| work=[[Business Standard]] | date=14 September 2017 | access-date=18 October 2017| agency=Press Trusted of India}}</ref> Beside the existing terminal, a new, larger terminal is being constructed to meet the rapidly rising traffic and demands. Its [[Cornerstone|foundation stone]] was laid by [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] in March 2024, and construction began in the same month.<ref>{{cite news|author=Uday|title=Foundation Stone Laid for New Terminal at Belagavi Airport|url=https://allaboutbelgaum.com/news/foundation-stone-laid-for-new-terminal-at-belagavi-airport/7|work=All About Belgaum|date=10 March 2024|access-date=28 April 2025|language=en}}</ref> It is slated to be completed by the end of 2026.<ref>{{cite news|title=New terminal building work at Belagavi Airport in full swing|url=https://belagaviinfra.co.in/new-terminal-building-work-at-belagavi-airport-in-full-swing/|work=Belagavi Infra|date=1 December 2024|access-date=28 April 2025|language=en}}</ref>

The airport also serves as an Indian Air Force station.

==History==
Built in 1942 by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF),<ref name="history">{{cite news |last=Patil |first=Vijaykumar |date=18 October 2002 |title=Passenger services from Belgaum Airport soon |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2002/10/19/stories/2002101901410300.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=26 June 2016}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Belgaum Airport is the third oldest<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vattam |first1=Krishna |title=Down Memory Lane |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/31260/down-memory-lane.html |access-date=7 July 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |date=19 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaggere |first1=Niranjan |title=Mining through Bellary's aviation history |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/news/state/bellary-mining-karachi-madras/articleshow/46432611.cms |access-date=7 July 2022 |work=Bangalore Mirror |date=3 March 2015}}</ref> airport in [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news |date=16 July 2015 |title=Five towns that are being added to India's airport map |url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/JR9RGL2qeHmwAEz5ZvHgJO/Five-towns-that-are-being-added-to-Indias-airport-map.html |work=[[Livemint]] |access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> The RAF used the airport as a training site during [[World War II]], providing support to the [[South East Asia Command]]. The [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] (DGCA) took control of the airport in 1956, followed by the [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]] in 1962. During the 1990s, Belgaum Airport was served by [[East-West Airlines (India)|East-West Airlines]], [[Gujarat Airways]], [[Indian Airlines]], [[NEPC Airlines]] and [[Vayudoot]]. All airlines ended flights to the airport by the end of the decade.<ref name="history" />

Belgaum Airport saw the return of commercial flights in 2003, with [[Air Deccan]] providing service from [[Bengaluru]].<ref>{{cite news|date=24 August 2003|title=Air Deccan services to be launched today|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/25/stories/2003082501250400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220230100/http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/25/stories/2003082501250400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 December 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> Air Deccan also flew to [[Kolhapur]] and [[Mumbai]] for some time.<ref>{{cite news|date=16 April 2004|title=Air Deccan to increase flights|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2004/apr/16air.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> After Air Deccan completed its merger with [[Kingfisher Airlines]] in 2008, Kingfisher decided to end flights to Belgaum in June 2009.<ref>{{cite press release|date=14 November 2009|title=Flights from Belgaum airport will resume soon|url=http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20091114/231521.htm|agency=India PRwire|access-date=27 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917024936/http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20091114/231521.htm|archive-date=17 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nevertheless, expansion plans for Belgaum Airport were launched in 2010, when the [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) and the [[Government of Karnataka]] signed a [[memorandum of understanding]]. Kingfisher returned in January 2011 with daily flights from Mumbai,<ref>{{cite news |date=11 January 2011 |title=Kingfisher Airlines starts daily Belgaum-Mumbai flights |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/kingfisher-airlines-starts-daily-belgaummumbai-flights/article1079584.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> but it exited the market in November 2011 amid its own financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 October 2012 |title=Belgaum airport to resume flights soon |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article1300121.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527225033/http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article1300121.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 May 2013 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> [[SpiceJet]] arrived at Belgaum in November 2012<ref>{{cite news |last=Urs |first=Anil |date=9 November 2012 |title=SpiceJet to begin Bangalore-Belgaum service |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/spicejet-to-begin-bangalorebelgaum-service/article4080707.ece |work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> with flights from Bengaluru and later added direct flights to Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad after Belgaum airport was expanded in September 2017. Spicejet served the airport till May 2018. After Hubballi airport was nominated under the UDAN scheme, Spicejet shifted all its operations to Hubballi which it operated from Belgaum Airport. The airport came into operation again after Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India began flight services to Bengaluru from 11 July 2018. This was a three times a week flight operated by ATR 72 type aircraft. Air India began service to Bengaluru with its Airbus A319 aircraft from 10 August 2018 on the remaining 4 days of the week thus connecting Belgaum with Bengaluru all 7 days in the week. Also this was the first arrival of the Airbus A319 in Belgaum.

In 2013, the [[Government of India|Central Government]] cleared the expansion project.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 November 2013 |title=Centre gives nod to upgrade Belgaum Airport |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/131116/news-current-affairs/article/centre-gives-nod-upgrade-belgaum-airport |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> Work began in February 2015 at a cost of Rs 1.20&nbsp;billion and took over two and a half years. It involved extension of the runway, construction of a new isolation bay, a taxiway, an apron for three A-320 aircraft and a new 22.5-metre tall ATC tower.<ref name="BS1"/> The expanded facilities were formally inaugurated on 14 September 2017 and AAI commissioned the new terminal and apron on 16 October 2017.<ref name="TOI3">{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/new-terminal-commissioned-at-Belgaum-airport/articleshow/61107638.cms | title=New terminal commissioned at Belgaum airport | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=17 October 2017 | access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref>

In 2020, Union Minister of State for Railways [[Suresh Angadi]] requested that the airport be named after [[Kittur Chennamma|Kittur Rani Chennamma]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=HS |first1=Shreyas |title=Angadi bats for naming Belgaum airport after Rani Channamma |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/angadi-bats-for-naming-belagavi-airport-after-rani-channamma/articleshow/73280709.cms |access-date=17 January 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=16 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==Terminal and airfield==
[[file:IXG Ticket Counter.jpg|thumb|Airport Entrance and Ticketing Counter]]
A new terminal building was inaugurated on 14 September 2017 as part of the airport expansion project. The terminal building is spread over 3,600 square metres and has a capacity to accommodate over 300 passengers. It has two baggage conveyor belts and six check-in counters. It has an [[airport ramp|apron]] for parking of three Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft.<ref name="BS1"/> The old apron has two parking stands designed for the [[ATR 72]] and similar aircraft.<ref name="techinfo">{{cite web |date=16 October 2012 |title=Belgaum: Technical Information |url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/belgaum_technicalinfo.jsp |work=[[Airports Authority of India]] |access-date=27 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213322/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/belgaum_technicalinfo.jsp |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="diagram">{{cite web |date=27 May 2015 |title=Aerodrome Data: Belgaum Airport (VOBM), effective 23 July 2015 |url=http://www.aai.aero/misc/AIPS_2015_32.pdf |work=[[Airports Authority of India]] |access-date=27 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813072514/http://www.aai.aero/misc/AIPS_2015_32.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are also two additional aprons, one on the north side of the runway that serves as an isolation bay and one on the south side. These aprons are each connected by single taxiways to runway 08/26, which measures {{convert|2300|x|45|m}}.<ref name="diagram" />

==Expansion==
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to expand the airport in view of the rising traffic and future demands. A new passenger terminal building will be built, which will have an area of 20,000 sq.m., thereby making it bigger than the existing terminal covering 16,000 sq.m. by 3,600 sq.m. It will be equipped with all modern facilities and will have three [[Jet bridge|aerobridges]]. It will be able to handle 1,400 passengers (700 arrivals and 700 departures) during peak hours. Other works included as part of the expansion is a new apron and a taxiway connecting to the runway, along with runway expansion to cater larger aircraft like the [[Airbus A320]] and [[Boeing 737]], which at present do not operate even though the existing new apron is capable of handling such aircraft types due to short length of the runway. The expansion work will be undertaken at a cost of around ₹ 230 crore, and is scheduled to begin from January 2024 with a deadline of completing in 2–3 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Belagavi Airport to get massive upgrade – AAI releases Rs.229.57 Cr.|url=https://belagaviinfra.co.in/belagavi-airport-to-get-massive-upgrade-aai-releases-rs-229-57-cr/|work=Belagavi Infra|date=9 July 2023|access-date=9 July 2023|language=en}}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airline itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport-dest-list
|[[IndiGo]]| [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bengaluru]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2023/aug/27/indigo-flight-from-belagavi-to-delhi-from-october-5-2609008.html|title=IndiGo flight from Belagavi to Delhi from October 5|work=Indian Express|accessdate=28 August 2023}}</ref> [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/indigo-to-start-bengaluru-belgaum-flights-from-september-8/articleshow/70772958.cms|title=IndiGo to start Bangalore-Belgaum flights from September 8|work=Economic Times|access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> [[Navi Mumbai International Airport|Mumbai–Navi]] (begins 29th March 2026),<ref>{{cite news |title=IndiGo adds six new routes from Navi Mumbai International Airport through ATR ops
|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/indigo-adds-six-new-routes-from-navi-mumbai-international-airport-through-atr-ops/articleshow/128749913.cms?from=mdr |publisher=AEconomic Times |date=24 February 2026 }}</ref>  
|[[Star Air (India)|Star Air]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Flight schedules & Route networks|url=https://starair.in/FareAndRules/Flightschedules|website=[[Star Air (India)|Star Air]]|access-date=1 May 2023|archive-date=18 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618090232/https://www.starair.in/FareAndRules/Flightschedules|url-status=dead}}</ref>| [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport|Ahmedabad]], [[Jaipur International Airport|Jaipur]]
}}

== Statistics == 
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=IXG}}

==Air Force Station==
Built by and originally under the control of the Royal Air Force, the Special Reserve Police of [[Karnataka]] took over the airbase in 1984. The air force station was a major base of air operations during [[Annexation of Portuguese India|Operation Vijay]] in 1961. Two years later, No. 1 Ground Training School at [[Jalahalli]] was moved to the base and renamed ''Administrative Training Institute'' (ATI) in 1980. In 2001, the ATI was renamed ''Airmen Training School'' (ATS). The focus of the base turned to providing Joint Basic Phase Training (JBPT) through the Basic Training Institute.<ref name="sainik">{{cite web |last=Mohan |first=R. D. |date=1 October 2012 |title=ATS Belgaum, Historic Alma Mater |url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2012/oct01-12/h7.htm |work=[[Sainik Samachar]] |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> JBPT is designed to teach recruits military values and orient them towards a life in the military.<ref name="sainik" /><ref>{{cite web |last=M. |first=Anantha |date=6 October 2013 |title=IAF to put airmen through new training pattern in January |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/IAF-to-put-airmen-through-new-training-pattern-in-January/2013/10/06/article1821256.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019015512/http://newindianexpress.com/nation/IAF-to-put-airmen-through-new-training-pattern-in-January/2013/10/06/article1821256.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2013 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
{{ Portal | Aviation | transport }}
{{div col}}
* [[List of airports in Karnataka]]
* [[Aviation in India]]
{{end div col}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/belgaum Belgaum Airport] at [[Airports Authority of India]] website.

{{Airports in India}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Airports in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Transport in Belgaum]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Belagavi district]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1942]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1942]]
[[Category:Airports Authority of India]]