BANGALORE: Destination Karnataka, for both tourism and investments, is likely to take a beating as Kingfisher Airlines, the only airline connecting North Karnataka, is dogged by a financial crisis. With Kingfisher operating flights to Mysore, Hubli and Belgaum, announcing temporary cancellations to some of these cities, the future looks uncertain.“It was the only airline providing connectivity and cancellation or reduction in flights would affect the entire region,” Jagadish Shettar, Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and Dharwad district in-charge said.The Legislator from Hubli said there were many industries in the region and loss of an air link would hit investments in the entire state.Shettar, who uses the route at least twice a week, said the expansion of Hubli airport by 700 acres would be in vain if no airline lands there. Prahalad Joshi, Member of Parliament (Dharwad- North) echoed Shettar’s concerns and termed the decision a “huge loss”.Joshi added that in his interactions with the airline, it had assured him there will be no such announcements. While Shettar made a request for another airline on the same route to check high pricing, Joshi made a similar request to improve connectivity.Concerns do not just end with VIPs and industrialists, as lawyers travelling to the High Court Bench in Dharwad have also raised concerns over the possible cancellations. “We travel there in the morning and return later in the day to avoid missing out on case dates in the city,” a lawyer told Express. He said cancellations would lead to crowding of the already jam packed trains.“We are hopeful that the airline will continue on the routes,” N P Jawali, president of the Hubli-based Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry said.
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