Sai Baba devotees may soon be able to fly early
morning or at night to Shirdi with the upgradation of its airport runway.
The first night
operation at the Shirdi airport occurred on Sunday (30 Mar ’25) with the
arrival of an IndiGo aircraft
from Hyderabad. More such night operations are being planned to ease travel. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra
Fadnavis described the development as a historic milestone for Maharashtra’s
aviation sector. “A big leap,
enhancing ease for the passengers and connectivity for Shri Sai Baba devotees
worldwide,” Fadnavis said in an X post.
“Shirdi Airport will now be handling a total
of 11 flights daily (22 movements), accommodating approximately 2200 passengers
per day. Multiple airlines have expressed interest in introducing more flights,
further facilitating seamless travel for devotees seeking Sai Baba’s darshan
and the early morning Kakad Aarti (early morning prayers),“ said Swati Pandey,
vice chairman and managing director of Maharashtra Airport Development Company.
Shirdi airport is also
undergoing an expansion which will result in construction of a new integrated
terminal building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of
the new terminal last October.