Which are the least used airports in India?

Despite the government's push to increase air connectivity by building new airports, many recently inaugurated facilities in smaller towns are struggling to attract passengers. These airports, despite heavy investment, are either underutilised or have become ghost airports.

According to the report of The Financial Express, Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated in October 2021 for religious tourism, has been without flights since April. Similarly, Sindhudurg Airport in Maharashtra, built to promote coastal tourism, faces low demand. Other new airports in Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Pakyong (Sikkim), and Solapur (Maharashtra) are in a similar predicament. Despite heavy investments like a Rs 65 crore revamp in Solapur, these facilities remain dormant.

In Pondicherry, the situation is dire. The airport had no scheduled flights for eight months in 2024, with air traffic resuming on December 20, when an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru landed, marking a rare event. These developments raise questions about the government's regional air connectivity strategy.

Why are these airports struggling?

These airports are underutilised due to low passenger demand. Government schemes like Udan (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) have made air travel more affordable for tier-2 and tier-3 cities, but consistent flight demand remains a challenge. Smaller regional airports serve areas with low populations, limited tourism, and poor economic activity, making it difficult for airlines to sustain regular flights.

Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO of Star Air, one of India’s largest regional airlines, points out that despite efforts to boost regional air travel, it’s hard to maintain profitable operations due to limited demand. Star Air, planning to expand with 20 new Embraer jets, faces difficulties in making regional routes viable. Challenges have intensified due to Covid-19 disruptions and global aircraft engine issues.

Despite these struggles, the Indian government remains committed to improving regional connectivity. Under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, India aims to increase the number of airports from 157 to 350. New greenfield projects are underway in Alwar (Rajasthan), Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh), and Parandur (Tamil Nadu).

Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

Keep Reading

Watch: Kashmir experiences first snowfall of season after dry spell

Amarnath Yatra: Tackling rising death toll from extreme weather events

Tourists arrival in Kashmir break records, a need to regulate it?

From tourist paradise to waste wasteland: Sindh River Cry for help

Follow Ground Report on X, Instagram and Facebook for environmental and underreported stories from the margins. Give us feedback on our email id [email protected]. 

Don't forget to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Join our community on WhatsApp, and Follow our YouTube Channel for video stories.