🇮🇳 Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport (IATA: RQY, ICAO: VOSH), also known as Shivamogga Airport, is a domestic public airport serving the city of Shivamogga (Shimoga) in Karnataka, India. It is located at Sogane, approximately 8.8 km from Shivamogga and 8.2 km from Bhadravathi. The airport is owned by the Government of Karnataka and operated by KSIIDC.

Notable Features and History:

• The airport is named after Kuvempu, a prominent 20th-century Kannada poet.
• Initially planned under a Public-Private Partnership, the contract was terminated in 2015 due to project delays.
• Construction was relaunched on June 15, 2020, by Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, with an estimated cost of ₹4.5 billion.
• The airport was built as part of the UDAN scheme, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity.
• It features a lotus-shaped passenger terminal.
• The airport is designed to handle Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 type aircraft and can accommodate about 350 peak hour passengers.

Current Status:

• The first phase of the airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2023.
• Regular flight operations commenced on August 31, 2023, with IndiGo operating daily services to Bangalore.
• The airport operates with a single terminal for all passenger operations.
• It is a domestic airport and does not have an international terminal.
• Operational hours for the aerodrome operator are 09:30 to 18:00 IST daily, except Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
• The airport is operational during all seasons.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, aim-india.aai.aero, centreforaviation.com, goindigo.in, cleartrip.com*