Scheduled services suspended; facility used for non‑scheduled flights
Moradabad: The airport at Mundha Pande, developed under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme and inaugurated on 10 March 2024, remains largely inactive for scheduled passenger traffic nearly two years on, officials and local exporters said.
A regional carrier that began commercial operations between Moradabad and Lucknow ran services for around three months — from August to November 2024 — before discontinuing the route permanently. Since then the airport has handled only non‑scheduled flights while scheduled services have been suspended, according to airport officials and local industry representatives.
Exporters cite limited utility, missing international links
Local exporters and trade bodies argued the airport’s planning did not sufficiently reflect commercial needs. Nauman Mansuri, president of the Handicraft Development Society in Moradabad, said domestic trade from the district depends heavily on southern Indian markets and on western seaports such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai for international dispatch.
“A 19‑seater aircraft to Lucknow offered limited utility to business travellers, since the same distance could be covered by road in under five hours,” Mansuri said.
Mansuri added that buyers from abroad generally preferred to land at international airports such as Delhi or Jaipur, requiring exporters to travel to those cities to host sample exhibitions and meet clients. He said the small regional link failed to provide the connectivity exporters needed to access larger air and sea gateways.
JP Singh, chairman of First Generation Exporters, criticised exclusive linkage to smaller UDAN airstrips without direct connectivity to international airports, calling it a constraint on the airport’s commercial viability. He noted that travellers bound for Delhi often prefer road travel to the circuitous regional flight routing via Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad that connects onward to Delhi IGI.
Operational limitations and recurring costs
Airport management and officials pointed to operational constraints that affected serviceability. The airport currently lacks an instrument landing system (ILS) and operates under visual flight rules, which forces suspension of services during low visibility periods such as winter fog, the officials said.
Despite the absence of scheduled passenger flights, the airport continues to incur recurring expenses. Airport director Ashish Pal told reporters that housekeeping and maintenance contracts cost roughly ₹29 lakh annually, indicating ongoing operational outlays even when commercial services are not running.
- Inauguration: 10 March 2024
- Commercial flight period: Aug–Nov 2024 (approximately three months)
- Aircraft size cited: 19‑seater regional aircraft
- Annual recurring housekeeping cost: ₹29 lakh (approx.)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Mundha Pande region, Moradabad |
| Scheme | UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme) |
| Scheduled services | Suspended (only non‑scheduled flights operate) |
Local stakes and the way ahead
Exporters said the model of linking Moradabad primarily to smaller regional airstrips, without direct links to international hubs, limited the airport’s attractiveness for commercial freight and business travel. They described the 19‑seat service to Lucknow as inadequate for trade needs, and noted that the short‑lived operations did not alter longstanding travel patterns that favour road access or direct flights to larger airports.
Officials flagged safety and equipment constraints as practical reasons for limited services, while the ongoing maintenance expenditure underscores municipal and airport authority commitments to keep the facility operational despite suspended commercial schedules.
The mismatch between the airport’s current capabilities and the connectivity needs of Moradabad’s exporters highlights decisions that will shape future use: whether to upgrade navigation aids and pursue stronger links with international gateways, or to maintain the facility largely for non‑scheduled operations and local needs.
