Star Air, which currently operates flights on these routes, will be the beneficiary of this government support. The state has allocated Rs 179.7 million to promote air services between Solapur and Mumbai, and Solapur and Pune. Officials noted that the move will significantly reduce fares on these sectors, making air travel more accessible to residents.

According to the cabinet decision, the state government will provide viability gap funding (VGF) of Rs 3,240 per seat for one year. After this period, Solapur Airport will come under the UDAN scheme, at which point the state will subsidise 20 per cent of travel fares in line with UDAN guidelines, and the VGF will be discontinued.

Under the UDAN framework, airlines are required to sell 50 per cent of their seats at a fixed rate of about Rs 2,500 per hour of flight, while the remainder are sold at market prices. Maharashtra has already introduced UDAN-linked flights on routes such as Mumbai–Nanded, Nashik–Delhi, Nanded–Hyderabad, Kolhapur–Hyderabad and Kolhapur–Bangalore, boosting regional connectivity, tourism and employment.

In a related development, regional carrier FLY91 has also announced services connecting Solapur with Mumbai and Goa, further expanding options for passengers.