Pics: Flybrary at Hubballi Airport is attracting travellers; A staff of Hubballi Airport helping passengers to get books of their interestHubballi: Open Airport Library at Hubballi airport — Flybrary, the first of its kind in South India — is drawing a steady stream of readers, with youngsters forming the majority of its daily visitors. Over 100 Kannada, English and Hindi books were initially placed in the Flybrary, and passengers in the Secured Hold Area are browsing through them, turning away from screens for a while.Airport director Rupesh Kumar Sripad told TOI that the Flybrary, opened on Jan 4, is getting a very good response. “Actually, it was planned for the first time in an Indian airport, but it turned second in the nation since implementation was delayed due to some unavoidable reasons. Now, it is the first of its kind in South India,” he said.“We are observing that departing passengers are spending their time at the Flybrary. Out of 700 average departing passengers per day, about 200 are visiting the library. Among them, 75% are youngsters. The Flybrary was launched with over 100 books, and we recently added some more, taking the total to over 250. We kept a feedback book at the library for the past 3 to 4 days, and passengers-turned-readers are sharing their positive feedback, with some suggestions,” he added.GB Goudappagol, president, Dr Sangamesh Handigi Sahitya Pratisthana, said they pitched the idea and approached the authorities. “We got a hearty welcome, and cooperation came forward to provide books free of cost,” he said.Rotarian Rita Handa said the Rotary Club of Hubli Central supported the initiative with 100 books and a rack. “We had apprehensions about how passengers, who are in a hurry at transport venues, would accept it. Now we are happy that they are adding productivity to their leisure time and turning away from smartphone screens, at least for a while. We wrote a letter to the Airport Authority of India in 2023 itself and got permission by Dec 2025. We kept a variety of books that can attract children, women, youngsters and senior citizens, and the topics range from science to sports and biography to spirituality,” she said.She said some passengers even noted down book details to buy later. “Even some organisations from other Indian cities are approaching us, seeking details on how to set a Flybrary at their local airports,” she said.Many passengers have thanked the airport and other stakeholders in the feedback book for encouraging them to read, or at least glance through, some books. Some staff said they, too, are going through books whenever they get time off from their routines.
