Hubballi-Pune flight will start on February 4

HUBBALLI: A direct flight to Pune from Hubballi may be operational from February 4.
IndiGo and Star Air are now operating flights to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Delhi (Hindon), from Hubballi. As there is good response from the fliers to these destinations, operators are keen to operate more flights to other destinations like Ahmedabad, Cochin, and others.
Now, Pune is being added to the list of destinations. A direct flight to Pune is a long-pending demand of the people of North Karnataka.
Union minister Pralhad Joshi said: “I have already had a discussion with IndiGo officials, and they have given their green signal to operate a direct flight to Pune from Hubballi. Initially, the flight will be operated twice a week on every Saturday and Sunday from February 4. As the Pune airport comes under the defence ministry, I will talk to defence minister Rajnath Singh to discuss operating the flight to Pune from Hubballi daily,” he said.
Vinay Javali, president, Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hubballi, told TOI that the proposed flight will be a game changer for the economic development of North Karnataka. “We already have connectivity to Mumbai and Delhi, soon to Pune. This will give a boost to industrial and business growth. Many people from Hubballi and other districts of North Karnataka travel to Pune to buy raw materials, meet clients or main dealers of automobile parts, for electronic, electrical, garment and many other business purposes,” he said.
“The flight is going to help them a lot. Moreover, investors can also think of starting their firms in Hubballi with hassle-free air connectivity. It will also boost tourism as many people visit Shirdi from here and from there people can come here to visit Siddharoodha Mutt. So, it is also helping improve tourism activities by providing connectivity to religious places,” he said.
Hubballi airport director Pramod Kumar Thakare told TOI, “Indigo will operate its direct flight to Pune probably from February 4. Flights to Ahmedabad, Cochin, Jodhpur and other destinations will soon be operated from Hubballi.”