Hubli Airport

Hubli Airport (IATA: HBX, ICAO: VOHB) is a domestic airport serving the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad in the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated on Gokul Road, 8 kilometres from Hubli and 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Dharwad.It is connected with 10 destinations throughout the country. Hubli Airport will be made self-reliant in terms of electricity generation by April 2021 with the commissioning of a 8 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted grid-connected photovoltaic solar plant located in the airport premises and third busiest airport in Karnataka after Bangalore and Mangalore.[2]

Hubli Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesHubli-Dharwad
LocationHubli-Dharwad, Karnataka, India
Focus city for
Elevation AMSL2,171 ft / 662 m
Coordinates15°21′42″N 075°05′05″E
WebsiteOfficial website
Map
HBX
HBX
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
08/26 8,500 2,600 Asphalt/Concrete
Statistics (April 2019 - March 2020)
Passengers475,218 (3.2%)
Aircraft movements6,944 (2.8%)[1]
Airport rank49 (4)

History

The need for an Airport at Hubli was felt way back in 1954 when the region was under the Mumbai (then Bombay) presidency. Due to States Reorganisation Act, Hubli shifted from being a part of Bombay presidency to the newly formed Karnataka state. Consequently land acquisition was delayed and done only by 1974. The constrution and devlopment of the airport was carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) of Karnataka. Airport Authority of India took over the airport from Karnataka PWD during 1996 and flight operations resumed in the 2003 by Air Deccan. Kingfisher Airlines soon joined followed and operated flights to Bangalore and Mumbai. Spicejet operated from the airport from 2014 to 2019 during the time which it had to suspend operartions twice respectively due to Runway repairs and aircraft overrun before permanently ending flights in 2019.[3]

Expansion

The Government of Karnataka signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in January 2013 to develop the airport.[4] Accordingly, 588 acres (2.38 km2) of land were acquired by the State Government and handed over to the AAI.[5]

The area of the airfield was increased to 615 acres (249 ha) and the runway was extended to 8,500 feet (2,600 m). A new taxiway, roofing, car parking, fire station and a new terminal building were also part of the upgradation project that would enable the operation of larger aircraft like the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320.[6] AAI constructed a new DVOR building and NDB building in 2016 and commenced the work on extension, strengthening and widening of the runway, taxiways and the isolation bay.[5][7] A new ATC tower, technical block, fire station, a new apron for parking three aircraft, a 12.8 km. security wall with 17 security watch towers and a sewage treatment plant were constructed.[8] On 12 December 2017 Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated the upgraded airport terminal and other ancillary facilities. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and senior Airports Authority of India officials were also present on the occasion.[9]

Facilities

Runway

Hubli Airport has one runway in use.

  • Runway 08/26: 2,600 by 45 metres (8,530 ft × 148 ft), CAT I ILS equipped and in future will be equipped with RNP.[10][11]

Terminals

The old terminal could handle only 3 ATR-72 sized aircraft.[12] The apron could handle only three Code A/B sized aircraft.[13] The old terminal was closed down and flight operations shifted to the new terminal after its inauguration.

The new terminal covers an area of 3600 square meters and is centrally air-conditioned. It can handle 300 passengers at a time during peak hours, i.e., 150 arrivals & 150 departures. The airport has passenger-friendly amenities like public address system, check-in counters, fire alarm, HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning), elevator, firefighting, CCTV, baggage scanners and car parking. It is also eco-friendly as the terminal has a skylight system for energy savings and a standing seam double insulated roofing system.[14] The apron can now handle three A319/A320/B737 or 5 ATR-72 sized aircraft at a time.

Cargo facilities

Old Terminal Building is being converted into Domestic Cargo Complex and is expected to start operations by January-end next year.[15]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
IndiGo Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Kannur, Kochi, Mangalore (coming soon), Mumbai,
Star Air Bangalore, Delhi-Hindon,Tirupati,
Air India Mumbai, Bangalore
Alliance Air Hyderabad
Trujet Bangalore (coming soon)

Statistics
Hubli Airport passenger traffic statistics[16][17][18]
Year Rank Passengers Growth Rank change
2019-20 49 475,218 3.2% 4
2018-19 45 460,462 835.4% 19
2017-18 64 49,227 89.9% 1
2016-17 63 25,928 33.5% 1
2015-16 64 38,973
See also: List of busiest airports in India

Connectivity

Road

The airport is connected to the city by Gokul Road. The National Highway 48 passes right next to the airport. The NWKRTC operates air conditioned bus services from Hubli Railway Station to the airport and a mini-bus service between Hubli Central Bus Terminus (C.B.T.) and the airport. The AC buses make ten trips a day and mini-buses 24 trips a day.[19]

Rail

The nearest railway station is Unkal railway station which is located 7.5 Km from the airport whereas the nearest major railway junction is Hubli Junction railway station, which is located 8 Km from the airport.

Solar power plant

A 8 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted grid-connected photovoltaic solar plant is being built by AAI at the airport. Hubli airport will be made self-reliant in terms of electricity generation by April 2021 with the commissioning of the plant. airport. Solar power generated here will be supplied to Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation's (KPTC) grid and then on to other airports including Gulbarga, Mysore, and Bangalore's HAL Airport. The project is located in about 38 acres of land on south of the runway. Over 400 solar panels will be installed in 24 acres of the land whereas the remaining portion will be used to set up transformers, rooms, and for other purposes. The upcoming solar plant will generate about 140 lakh units annually.[2]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 9 March 2015, a Spicejet Bombardier Dash 8, operating flight SG-1085 from Bangalore with 74 passengers and 4 crew, landed on Hubli's runway in heavy rain, veered off the runway and came to a halt on soft ground with the left main gear collapsed. There were no injuries but the aircraft received substantial damage to the left hand main landing gear, propeller and engine.[20]

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "One step towards renewable energy: Solar plant at Hubballi airport to generate power by April 2021". The New Indian Express. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. "Spicejet to relaunch flights to Hubli". bangaloreaviation.com. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. "Karnataka govt signs MoU for Hubli-Dharwad airport expansion". Daily News and Analysis. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  5. "Expansion and Facelift of Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad and Mysore Airports". Business Standard. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. "Hubli-Dharwad airport to be ready for Boeing in 2 yrs". Deccan Herald. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  7. "Hubli Airport expansion takes off after seven years". The Economic Times. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  8. "Muhurtha fixed for upgraded airport opening, Mumbai flight service". 7 December 2017.
  9. ANI (13 December 2017). "Karnataka's Hubballi city gets new airport terminal | Business Standard News". Business Standard India. Business-standard.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  10. "Now, Hubballi Airport gets Instrument Landing System". The Hindu. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. Tripathi, Neha LM (27 August 2020). "By December, 45 airports to use global navigation satellite system for safe landing in poor visibility". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  12. MIG (17 July 2017). "Ambitious Infrastructure Development Plans | Media India Group". Mediaindia.eu. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  13. "Airports Authority of India". Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  14. ANI (13 December 2017). "Karnataka's Hubballi city gets new airport terminal | Business Standard News". Business Standard India. Business-standard.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  15. "CONVERSION OF OLD TERMINAL BUILDING INTO DOMESTIC CARGO COMPLEX AT HUBLI AIRPORT". aai.aero. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. "2015-16 Statistics" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2016.
  17. "2014-15 Statistics" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015.
  18. "2016-17 Statistics" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2017.
  19. "AC bus service to Hubballi airport launched - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  20. "SpiceJet plane skids at Hubli airport, no one hurt, Spicejet closed Hubli operations and now operates its flights from Belgaum". Business Standard. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
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