Air Odisha starts intra-state flight operation

BHUBANESWAR: The intrastate commercial flight operation of Air Odisha was flagged off by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here on Tuesday.

On its inaugural journey, the carrier took off to Sambalpur from Bhubaneswar airport and would return to the capital city of Odisha via Jharsuguda.

The nine-seater chartered aircraft will connect three cities-Jharsuguda, Rourkela and Jeypore in the state from Bhubaneswar.

The Chief Minister said intra-state air connectivity would further boost the industry and tourism sectors in the state.

This is an initiative by the Odisha government to provide air connectivity to Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Jeypore, he added.

Notably, Air Odisha had conducted a trial run from Bhubaneswar to Sambalpur on December 18 last year.

The service will be available six days a week except on Sunday. The Bhubaneswar-based private carrier is offering tickets as low as Rs 2,499 as an inaugural offer, said Air Odisha sources.