The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted an aerodrome license for Ambikapur Airport in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district, paving the way for flight operations, officials announced on Saturday (March 16).
According to a statement from the public relations department, Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur, has been developed in the 3-C VFR category to enhance air services in the state.
The application for the license was submitted to the DGCA in December 2022, and the aviation regulator approved it on Friday.
3 licensed airports in Chhattisgarh
With this license, Chhattisgarh now boasts three licensed airports — Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, and Ambikapur under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS).
The license enables the operation of 72-seater flights from Ambikapur. Efforts are underway to commence air services from Ambikapur Airport to Raipur, Bilaspur, Lucknow, Patna, and Ranchi.
The commencement of flights from Ambikapur is expected to stimulate tourism and commercial endeavors in the northern part of the state, fostering the region’s development.
Alliance Air to expand flight services in Chhattisgarh
In addition, the state government has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre-operated Alliance Air to commence regular commercial flight operations from Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi and Kolkata, as well as from Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi via Jabalpur by the conclusion of this month.
The chief minister inaugurated flight services from Bilaspur to Delhi and Kolkata on March 12, alongside the initiation of the Delhi-Jabalpur-Jagdalpur-Jabalpur-Delhi route on the same day, as per the official’s statement.
Subsequently, following the agreement, flight services on these three routes will become regular from the end of the month. Under the MoU, the state will extend financial assistance to the airline company to offset losses based on the cost revenue model in case of passenger unavailability on the flights.