Parliament Question: Civil Aviation Services at Solapur Airport

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3164 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6th August 2026 ) CIVIL AVIATION SERVICES AT SOLAPUR AIRPORT 3164. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to operationalise and enhance civil aviation services at Solapur Airport and if so, the details thereof including the current status of necessary clearances and infrastructure readiness; (b) whether there are any proposals to introduce regular commercial flight operations from Solapur to major domestic destinations such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad; (c) the details of the routes identified or proposed under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN for Solapur along with the timelines fixed for commencement of services; and (d) the steps being taken to address operational constraints including regulatory approvals, infrastructure gaps and airline participation to ensure sustained and viable air connectivity for Solapur? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) to (d): M/s Star Air is persently operating four weekly scheduled flight services on the Mumbai-Solapur-Mumbai sector. The next phase of the UDAN Scheme was launched on 04.07.2026 to further strengthen regional air connectivity by expanding access to underserved and unserved airports across the country. Further, the scheme incorporates a longer VGF mechanism extending up to five years, progressively tapered to enable airlines to transition towards commercially sustainable operations. The overarching objective of UDAN is to ensure that airconnectivity becomes self-sustaining over time and does not remain perpetually dependent on financial support. Under the Scheme, Solapur Airport is eligible for bidding in the "Underserved Airport" category. Further, the Government of Maharashtra may identify and propose its priority routes connecting Solapur Airport for inclusion in the bidding process, as per the Scheme provisions. With the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service depending on their operational & commercial viability. ******