In a significant step to enhance air connectivity between Odisha and Jharkhand, Air India Express has introduced a new Ranchi-Bhubaneswar flight.
The service, cleared by Birsa Munda Airport authorities in Ranchi, took off on Monday and is part of a larger plan to link Ranchi with five major cities across eastern, southern, and northeastern India.
According to airport officials, the Bhubaneswar-bound flight will operate via Mumbai, while new connections to Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Indore are in the pipeline.
Birsa Munda Airport Director R. R. Mourya said the initiative aims to make passenger journeys smoother and faster. “Travelers from Ranchi can now reach Bhubaneswar in one direct stretch, saving both time and effort,” he noted.
The move has been welcomed by passengers in Odisha, who earlier faced limited options for flights between the two capitals. The enhanced connectivity is expected to give a push to business travel, tourism, and trade links between the states.
Meanwhile, industry and trade associations have urged the authorities to expand services further by introducing direct flights to the northeast, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Raipur. Travel operators have also recommended a Bagdogra link to simplify travel to Darjeeling, Sikkim, and nearby hill stations.
With Odisha’s aviation sector already set for expansion — including a new terminal at Bhubaneswar Airport and the upcoming Puri Jagannath Airport — the new Ranchi-Bhubaneswar route is seen as another milestone in boosting regional air infrastructure.
