Bhubaneswar: Another destination has been removed from the aviation map, posing a significant setback to the state’s aviation sector. On Sunday, air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda, an industrial hub in western Odisha, was terminated after the sole carrier, Star Air, ceased its service, causing concern among passengers and officials regarding the diminishing air links with the state capital. Jharsuguda becomes the 10th domestic destination to be removed from Bhubaneswar’s network. Previously, nine domestic destinations were eliminated from the capital’s routes — Indore, Dehradun, Jaipur, Lucknow, Goa, MOPA, Port Blair, Cochin, and Hindon — in addition to two international destinations, highlighting the growing disparity between aviation plans and actual services, according to civil aviation experts. The city now maintains air connections with 18 cities, with Singapore as the only international destination.
The suspension of flights to Jharsuguda occurs amidst discussions on enhancing civil aviation infrastructure and flight services in Odisha. Officials noted that the route had been experiencing strong passenger demand. “The Jharsuguda-Bhubaneswar (70-seater) flight was fully booked every day. The airline cited commercial reasons for halting operations. We hope it resumes soon,” stated U N Dhaundia, director in charge at Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda.
The Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda air link had become essential for corporate executives, senior government officials, professionals, and businessmen traveling between the state capital and important western Odisha towns such as Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, and Jharsuguda. The short flight significantly reduced travel time and provided a practical alternative to lengthy road journeys.
“For regular flyers, the sudden withdrawal has been shocking, especially as it is expected to sharply increase travel costs and inconvenience. The route used to benefit passengers arriving from Delhi and other cities, allowing them to fly into Jharsuguda and quickly connect to Bhubaneswar for onward travel to Cuttack and industrial centers like Jajpur and Paradip. With the service now discontinued, such passengers will have to rely on lengthy road travel to Bhubaneswar or first travel by road to Rourkela and then take the still-operational Rourkela-Bhubaneswar flight. This additional leg is likely to prolong both travel time and expenses,” remarked hotelier Debashis Patnaik.
This latest disruption has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of Odisha’s regional air network. “For western Odisha, the loss of the Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda flight is not just the suspension of one route, but a significant blow to business mobility, administrative access, and regional integration within the state,” commented Radheshyam Sharma, a businessman who frequently traveled this route.
