The first passenger flight to Shivamogga landed in Kuvempu airport around 10.45 a.m. on August 31. The airport’s management greeted the aircraft, which arrived from Bengaluru, with a water salute. This flight marked the commencement of operations six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport.
Former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Minister for Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil, Shivamogga Lok Sabha member B.Y. Raghavendra, legislators of Shivamogga, various Congress and BJP office-bearers, were among the passengers on board the maiden flight.
Mr. Yediyurappa said the airport had been a dream of the people of Shivamogga. It had been fulfilled as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took special interest in the project. He praised his son, Lok Sabha member B.Y. Raghavendra, for his efforts in completing the work and launching flight operations.