Hubballi airport set to soar high as expansion of aprons gets underway

Hubballi: Bigger aircraft will take off from and land at the Hubballi airport once the work on the expansion and reconfiguration of the aprons is over.

As many as 10 bigger aircraft like Airbus 320 and four smaller aircraft can be accommodated at a time in the airport.

This is part of the upgradation of the airport, which includes construction of a new terminal building, additional apron bays, four aerobridges and other infrastructure. The airport is being developed at a cost of Rs 270 crore.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has floated tender for the construction of the new apron bays at a cost of Rs 35.02 crore, with a completion period of 10 months.

The existing apron bays are capable of accommodating three code ‘C’ type aircraft, like Boeing 737-700, Airbus A320, and Embraer ERJ 190-100, and four smaller aircraft like ATR.

Once the apron expansion is completed, 10 code ‘C’ type aircraft and four smaller aircraft can be accommodated simultaneously at the airport, officials said. Hubballi airport director Rupesh Kumar said once the extension work was completed, more players may show interest to operate from the airport.

At present, two bigger aircraft are being operated from the airport, to Mumbai and Delhi. If two more bigger aircraft are proposed at the same time slot, Hubballi airport presently cannot facilitate them, due to lack of apron bay. Hence, the expansion work, another officer said.  Hubballi is one of the fastest growing cities in the state and has a good road and rail network from various parts of north Karnataka.

In the years to come, more people are expected to use Hubballi airport as a convenient gateway to the region. Therefore, upgradation has been initiated. The existing terminal building, which was inaugurated in 2017, has an area of 3,600 sq m and has a capacity to handle 600 passengers at a time.

New terminal building

Once the new terminal building comes up, the Hubballi airport will be expanded to 20,000 sq m and can handle 2,400 passengers at a time.

The new terminal is being developed as an eco-friendly terminal with 5-star ratings. 

Waste management, rainwater harvesting, solar power and other facilities will come up there. It will be ready for operations by 2026.