Jharsuguda: Air connectivity from Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda has faced a setback as IndiGo has suspended its direct service to Mumbai until October and reduced the frequency of flights to Bengaluru from seven days a week to four.
This decision has disrupted travel plans for passengers from western Odisha and neighboring Chhattisgarh, who rely on the airport for direct access to major commercial and IT centers.
According to airport sources, the airline has cited operational challenges related to global supply chain disruptions and increasing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs. Airport officials indicated that the suspension of the Mumbai service is expected to last until the winter flight schedule begins in October, at which point the airline may reassess and potentially restore operations.
While IndiGo continues to operate flights from Jharsuguda to other destinations, the reduction in services to Mumbai and Bengaluru has caused inconvenience for business travelers and professionals, many of whom will now need to travel via Bhubaneswar or Rourkela to access connecting flights.
Passengers have expressed their concerns regarding the added travel time and expenses resulting from these changes, urging authorities to work towards the swift restoration of the suspended services.
Airport authorities mentioned that discussions are ongoing with the airline, expressing optimism that normal operations will resume with the winter schedule in October.
