Govt approves new policy to attract airlines to operate flights from state

Bhubaneswar: A new air connectivity policy was approved by the state govt on Wednesday, promising financial incentives for airlines to launch new flights connecting various airports in Odisha. Chief secretary Manoj Ahuja said the new policy aims at significantly improving state’s air connectivity, both with domestic and international destinations.
As per the new policy, approved by the state cabinet chaired by chief minister Mohan Majhi, the govt will offer a financial incentive of Rs 5 lakh per domestic flight and Rs 10 lakh per international flight for a round trip from an airport in Odisha to one in another state or country.More incentives may be considered for routes exceeding a distance of 750 km, a govt statement said.

Govt approves new policy to attract airlines to operate flights from state

The incentives will be applicable for all new flights to be launched from the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar besides domestic airports in Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Jeypore and Utkela. The airlines should meet the eligibility criteria for the minimum aircraft capacity of 50 passengers for domestic flights and 180 for international flights. The airlines have to commit to sustainable and non-stop operations.
A chief secretary-level high-powered committee will oversee implementation of the policy, monitor route performance and adapt the policy as per requirements. The govt said the air connectivity is expected to boost tourism, create jobs, enhance trade and commerce besides driving regional development, especially in western Odisha.
The policy prioritizes sustainable long-term air connectivity, focusing on routes with strong potential for ongoing passenger demand. Notably, the Centre provides viability gap funding for routes under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS) for a period of three years. States bear 20% of the cost. Odisha’s new policy will cover all airports in the state and beyond three years.
Sources said the govt will work out the time period for which the support will be given. The Naveen Patnaik-led govt had offered a financial package for international flights. The govt had signed a deal with IndiGo to buy all unsold tickets for flights from Odisha to Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok for two years, ensuring direct flight connectivity to these destinations. The service for Dubai was launched in May last year and the two destinations after that.

We also published the following articles recently

SVPI connects to new cities, adds flights
Ahmedabad’s SVPI Airport is set to expand its connectivity with new direct flights to Muscat, Da Nang, Srinagar, and Keshod starting from October 26. The winter schedule also increases flight frequencies to popular destinations like Gatwick, Bangkok, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru, benefiting both frequent travelers and holidaymakers with more travel options.
Singapore, Dubai & Zurich: 3 international flights from Noida soon
Noida airport is set to commence commercial operations on April 17 next year with around 30 flights primarily linking key domestic cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, and international destinations like Singapore, Dubai, and Zurich. The airport has completed necessary calibrations and will feature a terminal capable of handling 12 million passengers annually, along with cargo hubs and maintenance facilities.
Bomb threat delays Star Air flight at Jamnagar airport
A Star Air flight from Jamnagar to Hyderabad was delayed by almost four hours due to a bomb threat posted on X. After thorough security checks by police and bomb squads, no suspicious items were found. The flight, which included a minister from Hyderabad and his family, eventually departed at 6.05pm.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *