a day ago
Mohol flags off flight to Goa from refurbished Solapur airport, cites CM's financial support for Mumbai flight
Kolhapur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved viability gap funding for airline operators to launch commercially viable Solapur-Mumbai flight services, minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on Monday after flagging off the Solapur-Goa flight from the refurbished Hotagi Road airport after a 15-year hiatus.
CM Fadnavis was slated to be the chief guest for the event. The authorities, however, said his Mumbai-Solapur flight did not take off because of poor visibility.
The Goa-based airline will operate flights on four days a week — Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday — from the airport. The flight took off from Goa's Mopa Airport, landed at Solapur and then took off back to Goa.
"Starting commercial flight service from Solapur airport was long due.
We refurbished the airport through the UDAN Scheme. Now, we look to develop more facilities like night landing and runway extension at the airport. We also plan to start service to Tirupati and Hyderabad. The CM has approved viability gap funding to operate flights between Solapur and Mumbai, which will start over the next two months," Mohol said.
Viability gap funding is a financial support mechanism provided by govt to airlines to ensure affordable air travel, particularly on regional routes.
It helps cover the gap between the cost of airline operations and the expected revenue on such routes, making regional air connectivity more accessible. The UDAN Scheme utilises viability gap funding as a key component, with govt compensating airlines for losses due to low fares.
"Before 2014, there were only 74 airports across the country, which have increased to 161 now. The aviation industry has been revolutionised under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have centres of worship in Solapur, such as Pandharpur and Tuljapur. Connecting these places via air helps grow trade and tourism," Mohol added.
