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{{short description|Airport in Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Shirdi Airport
| nativename-a = 
| image = Glimpse at shirdi airport.jpg
| IATA = SAG
| ICAO = VASD
| type = Public
| owner =
| operator = [[Maharashtra Airport Development Company|M.A.D.C.]]
| city-served = [[Shirdi]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| location = Kakadi
| elevation-m =
| elevation-f = 1909
| coordinates = {{coord|19|41|19|N|074|22|44|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra#India
| pushpin_label = '''SAG'''
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-m = 2,500
| r1-length-f = 8,200
| r1-surface = asphalt
| stat-year = April 2020 – March 2021
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 85,673 ({{decrease}}84.9%)
| stat2-header = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data = 1,452 ({{decrease}}76.7%)
| footnotes = Source: [[Airport Authority of India|AAI]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure III - Passenger Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex3.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure II - Aircraft Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex2.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref>
}}

'''Shirdi Airport''' {{airport codes|SAG|VASD}} is located at [[Kakadi]] village, about 14 km South-west of the town of [[Shirdi]] in [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. It is the fourth busiest airport in the state after [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport |Mumbai]], [[Pune Airport| Pune]] and [[Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport| Nagpur]].<ref name="DNA2">{{cite news|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-shirdi-airport-s-prospects-soar-as-maharashtra-govt-okays-development-plans-2770690 | title=Shirdi airport's prospects soar as Maharashtra govt okays development plans |newspaper= [[Daily News & Analysis]]| date= 11 July 2019 | access-date= 12 July 2019}}</ref> The airport, spread over 400 hectares, is owned by the [[Maharashtra Airport Development Company]] (MADC) and was inaugurated by President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] on 1 October 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shirdi gets international airport |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/635699/shirdi-airport-inaugurated.html |access-date=1 October 2017|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=1 October 2017}}</ref> Communication Navigation Surveillance (CNS) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the airport will be managed by the [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI).<ref>{{cite news|title=Flights to Shirdi airport likely by October|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/flights-to-shirdi-airport-likely-by-october-4803184/|access-date=21 August 2017|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=19 August 2017}}</ref>

== History ==
The [[Ahmednagar district]] administration officially acquired land for the [[greenfield airport]] project on 22 December 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shirdi airport work in full swing: Official|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-02/pune/28275574_1_shirdi-airport-airport-project-airport-for-devotees-planning|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614053622/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-02/pune/28275574_1_shirdi-airport-airport-project-airport-for-devotees-planning|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 June 2012|access-date=25 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=2 July 2010}}</ref>
The Rs. 340 crore airport project was part of the State Government's effort to promote religious tourism at Shirdi, known for the temple of [[Sai Baba of Shirdi|Sai Baba]], among the most revered spiritual gurus in India. Around 80,000 devotees who visit the temple town daily used to access Shirdi via road, [[Sainagar Shirdi Railway Station]], Kopargaon Railway Station and the [[Aurangabad Airport|Aurangabad]] and [[Pune Airport|Pune airport]]s located 125 km and 186 km respectively from Shirdi.
The single runway was initially intended to be 60 metres wide and 2,000 metres long and the airport was expected to start operations in December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-11/pune/28214407_1_shirdi-airport-airport-project-airport-for-devotees-planning |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614053535/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-11/pune/28214407_1_shirdi-airport-airport-project-airport-for-devotees-planning |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-06-14 |title=Shirdi airport to become operational by Dec 2011 |date=2010-12-11 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2018-10-02}}</ref> However, the MADC decided to extend the length of the runway to 3,200 metres to enable operations of larger aircraft and consequently the project missed its deadline.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shirdi airport delayed due to runway modification|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_shirdi-airport-delayed-due-to-runway-modification_1418536|access-date=25 April 2012|newspaper=[[Daily News & Analysis]]|date=4 August 2010}}</ref> Runway length now stands at 2,500 metres.<ref name="IE"/>
Plans for a terminal building costing around Rs 40 crore were abandoned due to shortage of funds and a smaller terminal costing 3- 4 crores was built instead.<ref name="IE">{{cite news|title=Shirdi airport not to meet Nov deadline|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/shirdi-airport-not-to-meet-nov-deadline/1017757/0|access-date=22 December 2012|newspaper=[[Indian Express]]|date=17 October 2012}}</ref>
The work was expected to be completed before the forthcoming centenary celebrations of Sai Baba's [[Samadhi]] that will draw thousands of devotees to the pilgrim town from various parts of the country as well as abroad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shirdi Airport to be completed in 3 years: Sahay|url=http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-145271.html|access-date=25 April 2012|newspaper=NewKerela.com|date=15 January 2012}}</ref>
MADC completed the construction work by February 2016 and applied to the [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] (DGCA) for an aerodrome licence to commence operation of non-scheduled flights.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maha govt seeks aerodrome licence for Shirdi airport|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/maha-govt-seeks-aerodrome-licence-for-shirdi-airport-116020700406_1.html|access-date=9 February 2016|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=7 February 2016}}</ref>
The DGCA issued the licence on 21 September 2017 and stated that the runway of 2,500 meters is capable of handling Code 3C type aircraft such as the [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] and [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737]]. An Alliance Air ATR-72 operated a test run from Mumbai airport, landing at Shirdi on 26 September 2017.
<ref>{{cite news|title=First test flight from Mumbai lands at Shirdi airport in 45 minutes|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/first-test-flight-from-mumbai-lands-at-shirdi-airport-in-45-minutes/story-36kB64Fx7o7bIZgiCo6duM.html |access-date=1 October 2017 |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=27 September 2017}}</ref>

== Airlines and destinations ==

{{Airport-dest-list
|[[IndiGo]]| [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Indigo to operate 22 new domestic flights from 28 March|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/indigo-to-operate-22-new-domestic-flights-from-28-march-11613050923466.html|website=www.livemint.com|access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref> [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/information/new-flights.html|title=New Flights Information, Status & Schedule | IndiGo|website=www.goindigo.in}}</ref> [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/information/new-flights.html|title=New Flights Information, Status & Schedule | IndiGo|website=www.goindigo.in}}</ref> [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]], [[Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport|Indore]], [[Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport|Lucknow]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/content/indigo/airlines/en/information/new-flights.html?linkNav=new-flights_footer|title=New Flights|website=www.goindigo.in}}</ref>
|[[SpiceJet]]| [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]], [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spicejet.com/PressReleaseNewsPage.aspx?strNews=launchsixnewflights|title=SpiceJet to launch six new international and domestic flights|access-date=2019-10-01}}</ref>
}}

==Statistics==
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=SAG}}

==Infrastructure==
The airport is equipped with a runway {{convert|2500|m}} in length. The terminal covers {{convert|2750|sqm}} and has a capacity for 500 passengers daily.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/59748-shirdi-india-to-open-to-commercial-traffic-in-early-4q17|title=Shirdi, India to open to commercial traffic in early 4Q17|website=ch-aviation|date=25 September 2017|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>
In July 2019, the state government gave approvals for the extension of the runway from {{convert|2500|m}} to {{convert|3200|m}}, construction of a new terminal building to increase hourly passenger capacity from 300 per hour to 1000 per hour and operationalisation of night-landing facilities at the airport. The work is expected to be completed in Eighteen months.<ref name="DNA2"/>
A [[DVOR]] system was installed at the airport in September 2019 to enable aircraft to land at the airport in low visibility.<ref name="TOI2">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/shirdi-airport-takes-step-forward-to-bag-24x7-tag/articleshow/71039884.cms | title=Shirdi airport takes step forward to bag 24x7 tag |newspaper= [[The Times of India]]| date= 9 September 2019 | access-date= 15 October 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://madcindia.org/index.php/information/projectshirdi_overview MADC Shirdi Website]
*[https://shirdiairport.in/ Shirdi Airport Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120614053539/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-22/mumbai/28303216_1_shirdi-airport-devotees-visit-shirdi-in-ahmadnagar-district Shirdi airport to be ready in a year]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120614053622/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-02/pune/28275574_1_shirdi-airport-airport-project-airport-for-devotees-planning Shirdi airport work in full swing: Official]

{{Airports in India}}

[[Category:Airports in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Transport in Shirdi]]
[[Category:Airports established in 2017]]
[[Category:2017 establishments in Maharashtra]]

Shirdi Airport - Revision history

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