New Ranchi-Bhubaneswar flight launched, boost to Odisha air connectivity

In a move set to strengthen air connectivity between Odisha and Jharkhand, Air India Express has launched a new Ranchi-Bhubaneswar transit flight, approved by the Birsa Munda Airport authorities in Ranchi. The service, which commenced on Monday, is part of a broader plan to connect Ranchi with five major cities in the east, south, and northeast.

The Bhubaneswar-bound flight will operate via Mumbai, while services to Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Indore are also in the pipeline, airport officials said.

Birsa Munda Airport Director R. R. Mourya stated that the new services are designed to provide passengers with seamless travel options without the hassle of changing flights at transit points. 

“Passengers boarding from Ranchi can now reach Bhubaneswar in a single flight. This will significantly save travel time and provide greater convenience,” he said.

The development has been welcomed by Odisha passengers, who previously had limited flight options from Ranchi to Bhubaneswar. The improved connectivity is expected to boost business travel, tourism, and trade links between the two state capitals.

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Meanwhile, trade bodies have urged authorities to expand services further, especially by introducing direct flights to destinations in the northeast, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Raipur. Travel operators have also demanded a link through Bagdogra to make tourist movement to Darjeeling, Sikkim, and other hill stations easier.