Star Air S5161 Mumbai to Kolhapur
Flight details:
Airline: Star Air
Flight: S5161 BOM - KLH
Reg: VT-GSC
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-145LR
Seat: 4A
Departure Mumbai Airport International Terminal 1 Gate 3: 09:30AM IST
Arrival Kolhapur Airport Gate 1: 10:35AM IST
Total time: 00hr 41mins
Video: Star Air S5161 Mumbai to Kolhapur
Bharat Udan - Flight 1
This report is from Mar 2025.
I had travelled from Melbourne to Mumbai a week earlier, read report below:
Air India AI311 Melbourne to Mumbai
It had been a long time since I travelled outside Mumbai, I decided this trip would be an ideal opportunity.
After few days of rest, I was ready to start Bharat Udan (Fly India) .
I had planned the routes to cover airlines, aircraft's and cities of my interest. I had booked the tickets while in Australia.
Due to short transfer times, I had to cancelled some flights and hotels and re-planned the routes.
I finalised the itinerary and this is the first flight of this Bharat Udan series.
This trip report covers the journey from Mumbai to Kolhapur .
Pre-departure
I booked the flight through Star Air website.
Kolhapur flights is flown under regional connectivity program in India called Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme. The scheme aims to connect unserved and underserved airports with affordable air travel.
Star Air website was to use and navigate, even though page was slow to load.
I booked the ticket and paid for the single seat on the port side of Embraer ERJ-145LR.
Web Checkin
Prior to departure, I completed web checkin for the flight.
Clicked my name and ticked the acknowledgement box and checkin was complete.
Boarding pass was sent to the email address entered at time of booking.
Trip to airport
As the flight departed early, booked a Ola and taxi arrived at 5.40a.m. Reached Mumbai airport Terminal 1A at 6.20a.m. Paid the fare in cash.
Mumbai Terminal 1A
I had not flown out of Mumbai Domestic for a long time and didn't know the departure gate.
Departure gates assigned to airlines.
I joined the queue at Departure Gate 1. As I reached closer, I noticed Gate 1 had Indigo and Alliance Airlines written on it.
There are two separate queue to enter, on the left is gate for those enrolled in Digiyatra and right is for those with mobiles and print-outs.
I dropped out of the queue and asked the staff, which gate for Star Air.
I was directed to Gate 2. Departure Gate 2 is for passengers of Akasa, StarAir and Spicejet.
When I reached the gate, tried using the Digiyatra app, but it wouldn't work for me even though I had everything set in the app and was successfully enrolled.
I had printed the itinerary before. So I joined the manual check counter, showed the booking and passport. I was allowed to enter the check-in area.
Queue was short at Gate 2.
Check-in area
Entered the check-in area and checked the schedule. Flight was not listed.
Counter information - Star Air using counters 37-40.
I found a place to seat near Gate 1. Waited sometime for check-in to open.
Video: Mumbai Airport Terminal 1A
I checked the flight information on Flightradar24, Aircraft information was not available.
While seated I remembered my previous experience on Air India from Melbourne. Being cautious, took photos of check-in and handbag.
Flight schedule in Marathi - official language of Mumbai, Maharashtra.
English flight schedule
Check-in
Time was almost 7.30a.m, checkin counter was not opened for the flight. Some passengers had gathered near the counter.
Counter was opened at 7.35a.m. I joined the queue which had a large group and 2 others ahead of me. After the group checked, I waited my turn.
India Domestic Baggage Allowance
When flying domestic in India, airlines allow 15kgs free check-in and 7kgs for handbag.
Placed check-in bag, which weighed 4kgs and handbag weighed 4.5kg.
The counter staff suggested that I carry the bag on board instead of checking. I said I would prefer to check-in.
I didn't want to carry two bags through security. A good decision as I found later.
I showed the itinerary and passport. No issues, got the boarding pass.
Security
There are 2 security check area split by departure gates. Security entry was next to the Star Air counter. I used the toilet before entering the security check area. Toilet was clean and maintained. Air dryers to dry hand.
Boarding pass has to be scanned to enter the security area. I had electronic devices, placed them in the tray. Security was busy but quick.
Departure area
Departure gates are split by airlines.
Entered the departure area and found place to seat.
Note:
Mumbai Airport Terminal 1A and 1B will probably demolished this year as some airlines will move to the new Navi Mumbai airport.
In the past Terminal 1A was used for International departures. There used to be a viewing gallery on the roof.
I had time to board and walked towards Gate 9-20 to explore the terminal.
I checked the flight schedule, aircraft information was not available.
Gate 3 for Star Air.
Boarding gate was empty.
Flight schedule in Hindi
Boarding
Boarding gate opened at 8.56a.m
Passengers queued to for boarding pass verification.
I joined the queue at the end as I was seated in the forward section.
Ground staff scanned the boarding pass.
Bus ride
Boarding pass was scanned and was allowed to continue towards the bus. Few passengers boarded the bus as most had left on the earlier one.
Video: Mumbai Airport Terminal 1 Bus Ride
A short bus ride and the aircraft was visible through the window.
Star Air Embraer ERJ-145LR
Tow in place for pushback
Bus parked in front of the aircraft. As the aircraft was backlit, didn't waste time in taking a photo.
Star Air VT-GSC operating S5161 to Kolhapur
Onboard
At the aircraft stair, boarding pass was checked and another staff ticked the seat number. Crew at the door to greet passengers.
I placed the handbag in overhead bin on the opposite side as the port side bin is too small to fit the handbag. This is where my decision to check bag turned out to be correct.
I sat in the selected seat 4A.
Scanned the cabin, flight was full with probably 3 seat empty. There was a aged passenger who was boarded on a wheel chair, due to narrow aisle.Wheel chair could not be rolled to the seat. Ground staff had to lift the passenger as he wanted to use the toilet. The crew moved him to back of the plane to save time and ensure timely departure.
A passenger in seat 2A was blind.
Pilot announced there was a short delay in departure due to air traffic clearance. Delay was short of about 15mins.
Flight details and weather information was provided during the announcement. Taxi time to Mumbai runway 27 was 15mins and flight time 45mins.
Seat pocket content
I checked the seat pocket while waiting for pushback. Safety card, Inflight magazine and air sickness bag.
Inflight magazine - The rising star
Back cover
Star Air Embraer ERJ-145LR safety card
Front
Middle
Back
Seat tray was big and reached near to the seat arms when opened.
Legroom was narrow.
Browsed the magazine and checked the route map.
Star Air fleet of Embraer E175 and E145
Star Air aircrafts and helicopters
Window view as few more passengers boarded from the last bus.
Aircraft Information:
Star Air VT-GSC Embraer ERJ-145LR
Delivered: 21/08/2018
Age: 20.6 years
Seating Config: Y50
Air vent and light, Crew call button
Doors closed after all passengers boarded.
Crew conducted manual safety demonstrations.
Pusback and taxi
Pushback commenced shortly after the safety demonstration, crew conducted safety check and sat in their seats. A long taxi followed.
Planespotted during the taxi. Air India[Vistara livery] taxies to Terminal 2.
Duets in frame
Biz jet
Video: Taxi to runway at Mumbai airport
Visitor
Air India Express and Spicejet
Construction of taxiway
Terminal 2- International
Holding for incoming aircraft
Departure
Western Express Highway and Western Railway below
Over Juhu Beach
View of the under-construction Versova–Bandra Sea Link.
Bandra- Worli Sea link
Video: MUMBAI | Departure
Malabar Hill - one of the most expensive land in India.
Colaba - Southern tip of Island of Mumbai.
Aircraft and service information.
Cabin Service
Crew conducted Buy on Board service. I didn't buy anything.
I asked for water.
I continued reading the magazine, planespotted Star Air aircraft's published in the magazine.
After the service, I walked back to the toilet. There was a single toilet on this aircraft. Picture tells the story, Signs of ageing.
Embraer ERJ-145LR All economy cabin - Seating 1-2
I returned to the seat and Pilot informed descend would commence shortly.
Approaching Kolhapur Airport
Crew conducted final checks
Aircraft made a turn and lined with the runway
Video: Landing | Kolhapur Airport Runway 25
Landed on runway 25-07
Exited the runway
Kolhapur Airport Terminal
Trivia:
Kolhapur is famous for Mahalaxmi [Goddess of wealth] Temple and sites related to Maratha history.
Kolhapuri food is famous in Maharashtra for being spicy and flavoured due to the chillies used in cooking.
Kolhapuri chappals [Handcrafted leather slippers].
For those interested in history, Valivade is a village near Kolhapur, where Polish people took refugee during the World War II.
Aircraft reached the parking bay as signalled by the marsheller.
Runway 25 used for landing.
Disembarkation
As the aircraft parked, Bus was waiting for board the disembarking passengers.
I waited till the end to disembark.
Crew helping the old lady, while the ground crew helped her husband and blind man after other passengers had disembarked.
Thanked the Pilot and crew and disembarked the bus. Bus waited for the blind passenger and the older couple to board.
Arrival
Bus ride was short lasted about a minute to reach the arrival terminal. Entered the terminal and trolley was placed next to the belt.
Kolhapur arrival has two belts. there is a huge painting on the wall and photo of the local temple and goddess.
Baggage arrived within 5mins of reaching the belt. I picked the bag and exited the terminal.
Flight and aircraft information
Flight information
Flight information from Flightaware website.
Flight duration
Landing time
Aircraft routing
Departure information
Video: Star Air S5161 Mumbai to Kolhapur route
Flight data
End of trip
Hope you enjoyed this trip report.
Thanks for reading and watching the video.
:)
