Solapur occupies a particular place in Maharashtra’s industrial and religious geography. It is the powerloom capital of India — the city where millions of metres of terry towels, bed sheets, and chaddars are woven daily on looms that have defined its economy for generations. It sits at the southwestern corner of Maharashtra, near the Karnataka and Telangana borders, within reach of some of the most significant pilgrimage sites in the Deccan: Pandharpur (home of Vithoba, the presiding deity of the Warkari tradition), Akkalkot (the samadhi of Swami Samarth), and Gangapur (Dattatreya’s sacred site in Karnataka). Solapur Airport — also known as Hotgi Airport, IATA code SSE, ICAO code VASL — reopened on 24 September 2024 after years of dormancy. Star Air and Fly91 now connect Solapur to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa-Mopa. For a city of over 12 lakh people that previously had no consistent commercial air connectivity, the revival matters.
Quick Overview: Solapur Airport
| Detail | Information |
| Airport Name | Solapur Airport (also: Hotgi Airport; Sholapur Airport) |
| Location | Hotgi Road area, Solapur, Maharashtra |
| IATA Code | SSE |
| ICAO Code | VASL |
| Owner | Government of India |
| Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| Built | September 1948 (Indian Defence Authorities) |
| Reopened (current era) | 24 September 2024 |
| Runway Length | ~2,097 m |
| Elevation | 483 m / 1,584 ft AMSL |
| Coordinates | 17°37′30″N, 75°56′10″E |
| Distance from City Centre | ~9–10 km northwest |
| Distance from MSRTC Bus Stand | ~4 km |
| Peak-Hour Passenger Capacity | ~200 passengers/hour |
| Scheduled Airlines | Star Air, Fly91 |
| Active Routes | Mumbai, Bengaluru (Star Air); Goa-Mopa, Hyderabad (Fly91) |
| Proposed Greenfield Airport | Boramani, ~15 km northeast (on hold — Great Indian Bustard habitat concern) |
Solapur Airport Location: Northwest Solapur on the Deccan Plateau
Solapur Airport is located approximately 9 to 10 kilometres northwest of Solapur city centre, at coordinates 17°37′30″N, 75°56′10″E, at an elevation of 483 metres above sea level. The airport address area is in the Hotgi Road zone of the city — which is why the airport is commonly referred to as Hotgi Airport in older aviation references.
Solapur’s geographic position at the boundary of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana gives the airport a catchment that spills across state lines. Bijapur (Karnataka) is approximately 90 km south. Gulbarga/Kalaburagi is approximately 155 km southeast. Osmanabad/Dharashiv is approximately 120 km northwest. The regional population that can reasonably use Solapur Airport for air travel — given the absence of other commercial airports in the immediate zone — extends across this tri-state border area.
The city’s religious catchment is equally significant. Pandharpur — where millions of Varkari pilgrims walk twice annually for the Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi fairs — is approximately 70 km from the airport. Akkalkot, a major destination for Maharashtra’s Dattatreya devotee community, is approximately 35 km. This pilgrimage proximity means Solapur Airport has a tourism demand stream that transcends its industrial identity.
Solapur Airport Code: IATA SSE and ICAO VASL
The IATA code is SSE and the ICAO code is VASL. SSE is used across Star Air and Fly91 booking platforms — search “Solapur” or “SSE” to find current flights. VASL places the airport in the VA western India block. The airport has been operated by AAI and is owned by the Government of India.
Solapur Airport Terminal: A Modest Facility With a History of Interrupted Starts
Solapur Airport’s commercial aviation history has been defined by starts and stops. Built in September 1948 by Indian Defence Authorities during the military operation to integrate the former Hyderabad State, the airport sat unused for decades before the Public Works Department rebuilt it for civilian use in 1987. Commercial flights began in February 2009 when Kingfisher Red launched ATR-72 services to Mumbai four times a week — the airport’s first real commercial life. That service ran only until August 2010 before stopping. Subsequent revival efforts repeatedly stalled.
The airport was reopened on 24 September 2024 under the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme, marking its most recent — and, so far, most durable — commercial restart. Star Air and Fly91 both launched operations at the re-inauguration, bringing Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa-Mopa, and Hyderabad onto Solapur’s route map for the first time simultaneously.
The terminal is compact and functional, with a peak-hour capacity of approximately 200 passengers. Check-in counters serve the two operating airlines. Security screening is in place. A passenger waiting lounge with basic seating handles departures. The arrivals area has a baggage claim section. The 2,097-metre runway handles ATR-72 class turboprops and regional jets — the aircraft types that Star Air and Fly91 operate.
A proposed greenfield airport at Boramani village, approximately 15 km northeast of the existing airport, has been under discussion since the early 2010s. The project — estimated at ₹310 crore with a 1 million annual passenger capacity — has been blocked by the forest department due to concerns about the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered bird species found in this part of Maharashtra. As of November 2025, the Boramani project remained on hold.
Solapur Airport Connectivity: Star Air and Fly91 on Four Routes
By Air: Star Air flies from Solapur to Mumbai and Bengaluru under the UDAN scheme. Fly91 connects Solapur to Goa-Mopa and Hyderabad. These four routes collectively cover Solapur’s most commercially important connection points — Mumbai for trade and business, Bengaluru for IT and industry, Hyderabad for the Telugu-speaking community of southern Maharashtra, and Goa for leisure tourism. Confirm current schedules directly with the airlines before booking, as UDAN-scheme regional frequencies adjust seasonally.
By Road: Solapur city centre is approximately 9 to 10 km from the airport — around 15 to 20 minutes by taxi. The MSRTC bus stand is just 4 km away. NH-548 (former NH-9) connects Solapur to Pune (approximately 250 km, 4 to 4.5 hours) and Hyderabad (approximately 315 km, 5 to 5.5 hours). State buses and private cabs cover inter-city routes extensively.
By Rail: Solapur Railway Station is approximately 10 to 12 km from the airport, a significant junction on the Central Railway’s Pune–Hyderabad–Secunderabad line and the Bijapur–Solapur branch. Direct trains connect Solapur to Pune (approximately 4 hours), Mumbai (approximately 8 hours), Hyderabad (approximately 5 hours), and Bengaluru (approximately 10 hours via Bijapur). Rail is the dominant long-distance mode for most Solapur residents, making the airport a supplementary rather than primary transport option for now.
Solapur Airport Amenities: Basic UDAN-Standard Facilities
The terminal at Solapur Airport provides the functional essentials for a reopened regional airport: check-in counters for Star Air and Fly91, security screening, a departure lounge with seating, baggage claim in arrivals, and restrooms. Basic food and beverage counters serve tea, snacks, and light meals. Parking near the terminal accommodates private vehicles and taxis.
There are no premium lounges, no duty-free retail, and no multi-cuisine food court. The 200-passenger peak-hour capacity is appropriate for the current two-airline, four-route operations. The airport’s AAI-standard operational setup includes fire safety, ground handling, and ATC functions consistent with UDAN-scheme aerodrome requirements.
For Solapur’s powerloom traders, industrial workers, and the pilgrimage community heading to Pandharpur or Akkalkot from other cities, the airport’s revival after over a decade of dormancy is a practical improvement in regional mobility — modest in scale but meaningful for a city of Solapur’s size that had been without consistent commercial aviation for so long.
FAQs: Solapur Airport
Q1. What is the IATA code for Solapur Airport?
The IATA code is SSE and the ICAO code is VASL. The airport is approximately 9 to 10 km northwest of Solapur city centre. It is also known as Hotgi Airport in older references.
Q2. When did Solapur Airport reopen for commercial flights?
Solapur Airport reopened on 24 September 2024 under the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme. The first commercial flights in the previous era had operated briefly in 2009 to 2010 under Kingfisher Red.
Q3. Which airlines and routes operate from Solapur Airport?
Star Air flies to Mumbai and Bengaluru. Fly91 connects Solapur to Goa-Mopa and Hyderabad. Confirm current schedules before booking as UDAN routes adjust seasonally.
Q4. What is the Boramani Airport project?
A proposed greenfield airport at Boramani village, approximately 15 km northeast of the existing airport, was planned at ₹310 crore with 1 million annual passenger capacity. The project is on hold due to the forest department’s concerns about the Great Indian Bustard’s critical habitat in the area.
Q5. How far is Pandharpur from Solapur Airport?
Pandharpur — home to the Vithoba temple and the Warkari pilgrimage tradition — is approximately 70 km from Solapur Airport, about 1.5 hours by road. Akkalkot, another major pilgrimage site, is approximately 35 km.
