- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Even as the demand for increased air connectivity from Kanpur’s Chakeri Airport continues to grow, particularly for morning flights to Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, aviation companies have been gradually reducing existing services. The latest in a series of cutbacks includes a reduction in Bengaluru flights to just four days a week, despite consistently high passenger loads.
While expectations were high following the inauguration of the new terminal at Chakeri in May 2023—constructed for Rs 150 crore and inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath—the reality has been disappointing for residents.
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Hopes of increased connectivity to major cities were rekindled when flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru resumed after the terminal’s launch. However, in early 2024, the Bengaluru flight was suspended temporarily and later reinstated with a limited schedule. Similarly, the Hyderabad flight, which was introduced after the Bengaluru route was halted, is now operational only three days a week.
According to data from the past week, passenger traffic remains consistently strong across all flights. For example, on one day alone, 487 arrivals and 538 departures were recorded. Despite this, flight frequencies remain restricted.
Currently, the flight schedule from Chakeri Airport includes:
-Delhi: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
-Hyderabad: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
-Mumbai: Daily
-Bengaluru: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Local MP Ramesh Awasthi stated that the issue of reduced flights, especially to key cities like Delhi and Bengaluru, will be raised in the upcoming Parliament session starting July 21. He added that efforts are being made to ensure both routes operate daily starting in October, as per the new flight schedule under consideration.
Alok Agarwal, National Senior Vice President of the Indian Industries Association (IIA), expressed concern over the shrinking flight services despite Kanpur’s status as an industrial hub. “There is sufficient passenger load on all current flights, yet the number of flights is being reduced instead of increased,” he said.
Meanwhile, there have also been talks about a possible new flight to Moradabad via the airline company Big Fly, though no formal announcement has been made.
Kanpur’s Chakeri Airport, which saw its first commercial flight in 1970 under the Air Force, has experienced multiple phases of expansion and contraction. With increasing demand and passenger traffic, citizens and industry leaders alike are once again urging the authorities to ensure consistent and enhanced air connectivity for the city.
