**Executive Summary**
This document addresses unstarred question no. 2278 in Lok Sabha concerning the operationalization of Kushinagar International Airport and the possibility of airport development in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh. The Minister of Civil Aviation provides answers regarding the current status of Kushinagar Airport, potential inclusion of the Kushinagar airstrip in the UDAN scheme, and the absence of proposals for a Greenfield Airport in Ballia. The question was slated to be answered on 12th February 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Kushinagar International Airport Status:**
* Kushinagar Airport is an operational airport under the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
* Currently, there are no scheduled flight operations at the airport.
* Domestic aviation has been deregulated since March 1994, and air service provision is based on airline decisions considering traffic, viability, and guidelines.
* **International Flight Operations:**
* International airline operations are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreements (ASA).
* Indian carriers can operate to/from Kushinagar, subject to ASA capacity limits.
* Foreign airlines can operate if Kushinagar is a designated point of call in the ASA.
* Direct international flights are a commercial decision of airlines based on passenger demand, slot availability, and route viability.
* **UDAN Scheme:**
* Kushinagar airstrip is on the tentative list of unserved airports under the UDAN scheme.
* Routes connecting to Kushinagar may be considered if airlines submit bids.
* **Airport Development in Ballia District:**
* The Government of India has a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy from 2008.
* Airport developers, including State Governments, need to identify a site, conduct a pre-feasibility study, and submit a proposal for Site Clearance and In-Principle approval.
* No proposal for Site Clearance for a Greenfield Airport in Ballia district has been received.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Airlines**
* **Impact:** Airlines determine domestic and international flight operations at Kushinagar based on commercial factors and ASA provisions. Potential inclusion of Kushinagar airstrip in the UDAN scheme can provide further opportunity.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate the commercial viability and demand for routes to/from Kushinagar. If interested, submit bids for routes connecting to Kushinagar airstrip under the UDAN scheme.
**Stakeholder: Airports Authority of India (AAI)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the operation of Kushinagar Airport.
* **Action Required:** Continue to maintain and operate Kushinagar Airport and assess opportunities for scheduled flight operations.
**Stakeholder: State Government (Uttar Pradesh) / Airport Developers**
* **Impact:** The State Government and airport developers interested in building airport in Ballia need to follow the procedure under the GFA policy.
* **Action Required:** If desiring to develop an airport in Ballia district, identify a suitable site, conduct a pre-feasibility study, and submit a proposal to the Central Government for Site Clearance and In-Principle approval.
**Stakeholder: Residents of Kushinagar and Ballia Districts**
* **Impact:** Residents will benefit from enhanced connectivity if airlines begin operations to Kushinagar or an airport is developed in Ballia
* **Action Required:** Stay informed of developments.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN scheme: A regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Government of India, aimed at enhancing connectivity to remote and regional areas
Kushinagar International Airport: The airport in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, which is the subject of the parliamentary question regarding its operationalization.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to civil aviation in India.
Airports Authority of India (AAI): The authority that owns and manages Kushinagar Airport.
Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008: Policy of Government of India to build new airports.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2278
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th February 2026 )
OPERATIONALISATION OF KUSHINAGAR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
2278. SHRI RAMASHANKAR VIDHARTHI RAJBHAR
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the time by which the Kushinagar International Airport would be fully operational
for regular domestic and international flights along with the current status of flight
operations therefrom;
(b) whether the Government proposes to connect Kushinagar Airport to more cities
under the UDAN scheme and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware that Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh is still deprived
of an airport facility, affecting regional development and emergency services and if so,
the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has any proposal under consideration for establishment of
an airport or airstrip in Ballia district; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the future plans in
this regard?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): Kushinagar Airport is an operational airport of Airports Authority of India (AAI),
however, at present there are no scheduled flight operations at the airport. With the
repeal of Air Corporations Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation was
deregulated and the provision of air services to specific destinations is determined by
airlines based on traffic demand, commercial viability, and compliance with extant
guidelines.
International operations of airlines are governed by the bilateral Air Services Agreement
(ASA) between India and the respective countries. In accordance with the ASAs, Indian
designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any point including Kushinagar
to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits, while any designated
foreign airline can operate to/from a point in India if it is designated as a point of call in
the ASA. The commencement of direct international flights from any point in India is
purely a commercial decision of scheduled airlines, based on passenger demand, slot
availability, route viability, and other related factors.
(b): Kushinagar airstrip is available in the tentative list of unserved airports in the UDAN
scheme document. In case, any airline submits a bid for routes connecting to Kushinagar
Airstrip in future rounds of bidding, the same will be considered as per the scheme
provisions.(c) to (e): Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA)
Policy, 2008 according to which, if any airport developer including the State
Government desires to develop an airport, they are required to identify a suitable site
and get the Pre-feasibility Study conducted for construction of airport and submit a
proposal to the Central Government for 'Site Clearance' followed by 'In-Principle'
approval.
No proposal seeking 'Site Clearance' under GFA Policy for development of a Greenfield
Airport in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh has been received.
******