Rourkela Airport Flight Services Halted 2025: Uncertainty Over Air Connectivity Continues

 

Rourkela, Odisha’s steel city, has once again lost its air connectivity as Alliance Air has suspended operations of its only ATR-72 aircraft. The sudden halt has left passengers and business travelers stranded, affecting the region’s growing industrial and tourism prospects.

Read also:Heavy Rainfall in the Bhubaneswar area

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SAIL and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which allowed the operation and management of the Rourkela Airport, is also set to end in October 2025, creating more uncertainty for future operations.

Alliance Air stopped its Rourkela–Bhubaneswar and Rourkela–Kolkata flights without citing a clear reason. Sources suggest the decision may be linked to operational and financial issues.

Additionally, the only flight engineer of AI Engineering Services Ltd at Rourkela was transferred to Kolkata in early October. Although the airport still employs 10 AAI staff, no commercial flights are currently operating.

The situation worsened as SAIL did not renew its MoU with AAI, which expires soon. Discussions between RSP authorities and the Odisha government in August and September indicated attempts to hand over the airport’s management, but no final decision has been made.

The halt in air service has been a major setback for Rourkela’s connectivity. Business executives, tourists, and even patients who relied on quick travel to Bhubaneswar or Kolkata are facing difficulties.

The airport’s closure also affects industrial growth, as Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) attracts many corporate visitors. The city’s development momentum, especially after the Hockey World Cup 2023, has slowed down due to poor connectivity.

Read also this:Indian Rupee Hits Record Low as Fitch Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.9%

The Odisha government has proposed an ambitious plan to upgrade Rourkela Airport to 4C CAT 1 IFR standard, allowing operations of larger aircraft even in adverse weather.

An Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey has already been conducted, and the Commerce & Transport Department has requested AAI to prepare a master plan for the upgrade.

If AAI declines ownership—possibly due to the proximity of Jharsuguda Airport (130 km away)—the state government might take charge to ensure operations continue.

Former Steel Executives’ Federation general secretary Bimal Bisi urged the state to find alternative airline operators and expedite the upgradation work to restore Rourkela’s air link.

The suspension of flights from Rourkela Airport highlights the urgent need for sustainable air connectivity in western Odisha. The government must act swiftly—either by partnering with a new airline or by completing airport expansion under AAI supervision—to ensure that Rourkela, a city of immense industrial and strategic importance, regains its place on India’s aviation map.