Hubballi (HBX): a fixed-rate taxi desk, and a short run into town
The prepaid desk in arrivals books at government-approved rates, which is the single most useful thing about arriving here. Dharwad is a good deal further than Hubballi.
- The airport is on Gokul Road, 6 to 8 km from central Hubballi, on a journey of 15 to 30 minutes.
- Dharwad is about 20 km away, so the twin city is a longer ride than the number suggests.
- There is a taxi desk in arrivals booking at fixed government-approved rates. Use it rather than negotiating at the kerb.
- Ola and app-based cabs operate, which is the other way to get a fixed price.
- Auto-rickshaws are widely available and are the economical option over these distances.
- NWKRTC city buses stop near the airport, and Karnataka State Road Transport plus private operators link various parts of Hubballi.
- The bus stops near the airport rather than at it. That is fine with a daypack.
- One integrated terminal, domestic flights only, opened in 2017 at 3,600 square metres with high ceilings and a lot of glass.
- An 8 megawatt solar plant was commissioned here in 2021, which makes this one of the greener regional terminals in India.
- IndiGo runs most of the schedule, connecting to Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, much of it under the UDAN regional scheme.
The fixed-rate desk
- A dedicated desk in arrivals books taxis at fixed government-approved rates. In India this is worth going out of your way for: the price is set, printed and not open to discussion.
- Ola and other app-based cabs also work here, giving the same certainty from your phone.
- Auto-rickshaws are everywhere in Hubballi. Over 6 to 8 km they are the cheap and perfectly sensible choice with hand luggage.
- Agree any unmetered fare first. Rickshaw meters are not universally used.
Distances
| Destination | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hubballi city centre and railway station | 6 to 8 km | 15 to 30 min |
| Dharwad | about 20 km | longer |
- The two sources differ slightly on the distance, 6 km against 8 km, which in practice makes no difference to the ride.
- Dharwad is the other half of the twin city and it is a proper journey rather than a hop.
Buses
- NWKRTC, the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, runs city services that stop near the airport.
- Karnataka State Road Transport and private operators connect other parts of Hubballi.
- Hubballi also has a Bus Rapid Transit system, though there is no dedicated airport express on it.
The terminal
- One integrated terminal, domestic only. The 3,600 square metre building opened in 2017, with high ceilings and panoramic glazing.
- Free wifi, ATMs, currency exchange, cafés, shops, lounges and mother and child facilities.
- An 8 megawatt solar plant was commissioned in 2021, which is a real distinction for a regional Indian airport.
The route map
- IndiGo carries most of the traffic, to Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.
- A lot of the network is UDAN, India's regional connectivity scheme, which is why routes here appear and disappear more often than at a metro airport. Check the flight still exists before relying on it.
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