Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport, Shivamogga: Terminal, Code, Location, Connectivity, Amenities

Shivamogga is the gateway to the Malnad — Karnataka’s Western Ghats hill country, where the forest thickens, the rainfall becomes extraordinary (Agumbe receives among the highest annual rainfall in India), and rivers like the Tunga and Bhadra begin their journeys toward the plains. The city is Karnataka’s door to Jog Falls, the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodachadri Peak, and the Sahyadri Range that runs the full length of the Western Ghats. Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport — named after the Jnanpith laureate Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa, the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century, known as Kuvempu — is a greenfield airport inaugurated by PM Modi on 27 February 2023, which began commercial operations on 31 August 2023. It carries IATA code RQY and ICAO code VOSH, has a 3,200-metre runway (the second longest in Karnataka after BLR), a lotus-shaped terminal building, and IndiGo and Star Air services to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Tirupati, and Goa.

Quick Overview: Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport Location: Sogane in the Malnad’s Eastern Foothills

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport is located at Sogane, approximately 13.5 kilometres from Shivamogga city centre. Coordinates are 13°51′17″N, 75°36′38″E, at an elevation of 615 metres above mean sea level. The airport sits at the transitional terrain between the Deccan plateau’s western edge and the rising terrain of the Western Ghats — just east of the point where the landscape begins to seriously climb toward Malnad’s dense forests.

Shivamogga’s significance as a gateway to the Malnad region is the core tourism case for this airport. Jog Falls, India’s highest plunge waterfall at approximately 253 metres, is roughly 100 km from the airport. The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve is approximately 60 km. Kodachadri Peak, a Western Ghats summit offering panoramic views across the Sahyadri range and, on clear days, the Arabian Sea, is approximately 120 km. The birthplace of poet Kuvempu himself — at Kuppalli in the Malnad hills — is approximately 25 km from Shivamogga.

The airport was named after Kuvempu in 2023 after the Karnataka cabinet considered naming it after former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, who declined the honour in favour of the poet — a graceful act of deference to cultural legacy over political commemoration.

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport Code: IATA RQY and ICAO VOSH

The airport’s IATA code is RQY and its ICAO code is VOSH. RQY is the booking identifier for Shivamogga across airline platforms — searchable as both “Shivamogga” and “Shimoga” (the old spelling). VOSH places it in the VO southern India block.

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport Terminal: Lotus-Shaped Greenfield Building With India’s Second-Longest Karnataka Runway

The terminal at Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport is a single-level structure designed in the shape of a lotus — a deliberate architectural nod to Karnataka’s cultural symbolism and to Kuvempu’s poetic imagery of natural beauty. The building handles both arrivals and departures from a single integrated structure with essential passenger processing facilities including security checkpoints, check-in counters, and baggage claim.

The airport’s most technically remarkable feature is its 3,200-metre runway — the second longest in Karnataka after BLR. This runway length enables Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 class narrow-body jet operations, giving Shivamogga an infrastructure capability that many older Karnataka airports with longer commercial histories (including Mysuru) don’t yet possess. CAT-I ILS is installed, enabling instrument approaches in reduced visibility. The runway and navigation infrastructure make Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport technically capable of handling a significantly larger commercial operation than its current passenger volumes suggest.

PM Modi inaugurated the airport on 27 February 2023 during Shivamogga’s political season — with multiple State Assembly election-season aircraft landing here, before commercial service began on 31 August 2023 with IndiGo’s first Bengaluru–Shivamogga flight. The airport is being developed in two phases; Phase 1 encompassing the current infrastructure, with Phase 2 provisions for expanded terminal capacity, additional apron bays, and potential international operations.

Traffic reached 39,040 passengers in the first operational year (April 2023 to March 2024), increasing to 94,291 passengers in the first seven months of 2025 — a sharp growth curve suggesting that the initial patronage is building steadily as the network expands.

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport Connectivity: IndiGo and Star Air on Four Routes

By Air: IndiGo and Star Air currently operate scheduled services from Shivamogga. Routes include Bengaluru (IndiGo, multiple times weekly), Hyderabad (Star Air, daily), Tirupati (Star Air, S5203 — approximately 1 hour 5 minutes from Tirupati, confirmed operating April 2026), and Goa/Mopa (Star Air, S5210 departing Shivamogga at 14:20). Confirm current frequencies and schedules directly with the airlines before booking — the route network has been expanding and additional destinations including Chennai have been mentioned for future development.

By Road: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates dedicated shuttle buses between Shivamogga city bus stand and the airport, timed to align with flight arrivals and departures. Local taxis and pre-booked cabs are available from the city; the airport is approximately 13.5 km — around 25 to 35 minutes. Auto-rickshaws serve as a budget-friendly local option, with metered or pre-agreed fares for the airport journey.

By Rail: Shivamogga Junction is approximately 15 km from the airport, connected to Bengaluru (approximately 5 to 6 hours by express) and Mysuru via the Western Railway zone.

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport Amenities: Clean Modern Greenfield Terminal

As a greenfield airport inaugurated in 2023, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport offers the clean, well-maintained amenity profile of a fresh facility rather than a legacy building in need of renovation. The lotus-shaped terminal has seating areas, restrooms, security screening, check-in counters, baggage claim, and basic food and beverage service. Wi-Fi is available. The terminal is designed for smooth passenger flow in a single-level layout.

There is no commercial premium lounge, no duty-free retail, and no multi-cuisine food court at the current scale — Phase 2 development will address these as passenger volumes grow. KSRTC shuttle bus connectivity from the city bus stand is available for those without private transport arrangements.

FAQs: Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport

Q1. What is the IATA code for Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport?

A: The IATA code is RQY and the ICAO code is VOSH. The airport serves Shivamogga (also spelt Shimoga) and the Malnad region — searchable as “Shivamogga” or “Shimoga” on airline booking platforms.

Q2. When did the airport open and who is it named after?

A: The airport was inaugurated by PM Modi on 27 February 2023. Commercial operations began on 31 August 2023. It is named after Kuvempu (Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa) — the Jnanpith laureate and greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century, whose literary work celebrated Malnad’s forests and rivers.

Q3. What is the runway length at Shivamogga Airport?

A: The runway is 3,200 metres long — the second longest in Karnataka after Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru — with CAT-I ILS. This enables Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 class narrow-body jet operations, giving Shivamogga significantly more aviation infrastructure than its current passenger volumes require.

Q4. Which airlines and routes operate from Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport?

A: IndiGo (Bengaluru) and Star Air (Hyderabad, Tirupati, Goa/Mopa) operate from RQY as of mid-2026. Verify current schedules before booking as the network is evolving.

Q5. What are the main tourist attractions near Shivamogga Airport?

A: Jog Falls (India’s highest plunge waterfall, ~100 km), Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (~60 km), Kodachadri Peak (~120 km), Gajanur Dam (just outside the city), Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Reserve (near Shivamogga city), and Kuvempu’s birthplace at Kuppalli (~25 km from the city).