Daijiworld Media Network – Shivamogga

Shivamogga, June 7: Air connectivity from Shivamogga is set to take another hit, with SpiceJet deciding to temporarily suspend its flight operations from the city from June 9, barely weeks after IndiGo withdrew its services from the airport.

The airline, which has been operating a daily service connecting Shivamogga with Chennai and Hyderabad, has already halted ticket bookings on the route, signalling the suspension of operations.

SpiceJet launched the Chennai–Shivamogga–Hyderabad service on October 10, 2024, under the Centre’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme. Since then, the flight had been operating daily, providing a crucial air link between the three cities.

Under the existing schedule, the aircraft departed Hyderabad at 10.40 am and arrived in Shivamogga at 11.40 am. It then left Shivamogga at 12.10 pm and reached Chennai at 1.30 pm. The return service departed Chennai at 2.45 pm, landed in Shivamogga at 4.05 pm and subsequently flew back to Hyderabad at 4.30 pm.

An airport official told Deccan Herald that the suspension is expected to remain in force until September.

“The service has been temporarily suspended till September due to the increase in fuel prices, difficulty in complying with DGCA guidelines and the demand for flights to start from Jewar International Airport in Noida,” the official said.

The development comes close on the heels of IndiGo’s decision to suspend its Bengaluru–Shivamogga service from May 1. With SpiceJet also pulling out, Shivamogga airport will be left with only one commercial airline operator.

Star Air will now be the sole carrier operating scheduled services from the airport, with daily flights connecting Shivamogga to Tirupati, Goa and Hyderabad.