Andhra Pradesh government will enter into a new tie-up with IndiGo airlines to resume air travel from Kadapa airport. IndiGo is replacing Trujet, which provided the services earlier under the UDAN scheme of the central government. IndiGo may operate four flights per week from Kadapa airport for one year.
The state’s cabinet cancelled the existing Selected Airline Operator Agreement with Trujet as it stopped the flights once the three-year viability gap funding support from the government under the UDAN scheme ended in May 2021. Trujet previously operated flights on Kadapa-Chennai-Kadapa and Kadapa-Vijayawada-Kadapa routes for three years. Kadapa airport is located in Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s native district.
Under the leadership of CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the cabinet also sanctioned an expenditure of Rs 20 crore to support IndiGo operations from Kadapa airport. The cabinet also approved the expenses to meet the state government’s share under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN for other airports like Kurnool.
According to a publication, Newsminute, Andhra Pradesh Government had initially approved a proposal to continue the services of Trujet, allowing it to continue passenger services on the two sectors for one more year. However, the reason to terminate the decision now is not known.
According to a source quoted by the publication, the state government intends to provide affordable airline services in line with the RCS-UDAN and the interest of passenger comfort.
Andhra Pradesh to expand aviation infrastructure under ‘One District, One Airport’
Andhra Pradesh government is focusing on expanding state's aviation infrastructure. Recently, the Chief Minister met the Infrastructure and Investments Department to plan and build seven new airports in Andhra Pradesh under the ‘One District, One Airport’ concept. The idea is to construct airports with similar infrastructure in all districts, capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft such as Boeing. Currently, the state has airports in destinations such as Visakhapatnam, Rajamahendravaram, Vijayawada, Kadapa Tirupati and Kurnool. Andhra Pradesh will further expand the existing airports, and the action plan with timeframe will be released soon. Expansion of Vijayawada airport will be taken forward on priority given the growing traffic of the airport.
