Belagavi Airport to mark Yatri Suvidha Divas today with focus on passenger services

Belagavi: Belagavi Airport will celebrate ‘Yatri Suvidha Diwas’ on Monday as part of a nationwide Airports Authority of India (AAI) initiative highlighting its passenger-first approach and infrastructure development over the past decade.To mark the occasion, passengers arriving and departing will be welcomed traditionally with a tilak. The airport has lined up cultural programmes, including local folk performances and passenger engagement activities such as quizzes. Community-focused initiatives like a voluntary blood donation camp, free health check-ups and eye screening camps for passengers, taxi drivers and staff will also be held. A tree plantation drive will be launched under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.Airport director S Thiyagarajan said the event also aims to recognise the contribution of frontline staff. A felicitation programme will honour housekeeping personnel and women employees from AAI, airlines and security agencies. School students will also be invited for an airport walkthrough and career guidance session under the civil aviation ministry’s outreach programme.Over the past 12 years, Belagavi Airport has expanded connectivity under the UDAN scheme and currently operates flights to major cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The airport has handled over 51,000 aircraft movements and served more than 1.2 crore passengers, along with processing cargo in recent years.Infrastructure upgrades include extension of the runway to 2,300 metres to support larger aircraft and installation of key navigation and surveillance systems such as ILS CAT-I, DVOR and ADS-B.The airport has also supported local livelihoods by providing space for self-help groups to sell products under AAI’s AVSAR scheme.Passengers currently have access to facilities such as free Wi-Fi and improved amenities, while work on a new domestic terminal building with additional boarding bridges and aircraft bays is in progress.