Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to the aviation sector in the State, more flight operations will start soon from Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar and Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda.
The Chief Minister’s Office today made an announcement in this regard on social media platform X.
The communication system is being strengthened. The path of progress is widening. Direct flights will start from Biju Patnaik International Airport to Indore, Dehradun, Kochi, Jaipur, and Lucknow, the CMO said.
Similarly, direct flight service to Hyderabad, Raipur, Lucknow, and Mumbai will commence from VSS Airport, Jharsuguda, it said.
It will give a new direction to the economic development of the State, the CMO said.
“The recently approved New Destination Policy of #Odisha has encouraged airlines to introduce new flights for #Bhubaneswar and #Jharsuguda airports,” it said.
These enhanced connections are set to significantly boost commerce and tourism across the state. Additionally, the availability of belly cargo on these flights will provide a strong impetus to the growth of agricultural produce, it further mentioned on X.
The State Government in October this year formulated a new policy designed to significantly enhance air connectivity across the State.
The Air Connectivity Policy, which offers substantial financial incentives to airlines, encourages the launch of new domestic and international air routes from different airports of Odisha.
Under the new policy, the Government has announced to provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines for launching new scheduled services received from the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Veer Surendra Sai Airport at Jharsuguda, and smaller airports in Jeypore, Rourkela, and Utkela.
The State has decided to provide Rs 5 lakh per round trip for domestic routes and Rs 10 lakh for international routes, with potential increases for routes exceeding 750 km. This support would mitigate financial risk and make new routes more attractive, sources said.
The policy aligns with the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 and the UDAN scheme. It also prioritizes connecting currently underserved regions, ensuring fairer access to air travel across Odisha.
However, the airlines must meet strict eligibility criteria including minimum aircraft capacity (50 seats for domestic, 180 for international), DGCA approvals, and a commitment to sustainable, non-stop operations, the sources said.
For comprehensive monitoring and evaluation, a Chief Secretary-led High-Power Committee (HPC) has been formed to oversee implementation, monitor route performance, and adapt the policy needed.