Nagpur’s hopes of becoming a major aviation hub have suffered another setback as three direct flight services have been permanently discontinued over the past year. The suspension of these routes has reduced the city’s direct domestic connectivity which forcing passengers travelling to Nashik, Lucknow and Kolhapur to depend on connecting flights or other modes of transport. The move comes at a time when Nagpur Airport is under new management, with expectations of improved connectivity and expansion in the coming years. According to officials of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, IndiGo Airlines has discontinued its direct flights from Nagpur to Nashik and Lucknow. Star Air has also stopped operating its direct Nagpur-Kolhapur service due to poor passenger demand. The Nagpur-Nashik flight was launched in March 2023 to improve regional connectivity.

 

The Nagpur-Kolhapur route began in March 2025 but was withdrawn just two months later because of low passenger loads. With these three routes discontinued, passengers travelling to Lucknow, Nashik and Kolhapur now have to take connecting flights or travel by road or rail which resulted into longer travel time and higher costs. At present, Nagpur Airport operates 31 scheduled departures every day. The airport is served by five airlines, including three domestic and two international carriers which are providing direct connectivity to 13 Indian cities and two international destinations - Sharjah and Doha.

 

The changes come as airport operations have been handed over from Mihan India Limited (MIL) to GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited (GNIAL) under a long-term concession agreement. GMR is now responsible for the airport’s operations, maintenance, development and management. Over the years, several airlines have started services from Nagpur to various cities, but some routes have later been withdrawn after operational and commercial reviews. Airport officials believe that future expansion of the route network will depend on airline interest, passenger demand and the commercial viability of new services. 

 

Apart from the three discontinued services, Nagpur has also witnessed reductions in flight frequency on several other routes in recent weeks. Two Nagpur-Indore flights have been suspended, while one Nagpur-Delhi flight has also been withdrawn. From next week, the Nagpur-Ahmedabad route will operate only five flights a week. In addition, two Nagpur-Mumbai flights have also been suspended.