Odisha received a major air connectivity upgrade with the launch of direct flights by Star Air from Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda from August 16. The first flight on this route took off today from Biju Patnaik International Airport.
The service will provide a faster alternative to long road and rail journeys within the state, improving access between western Odisha’s industrial hub and the state capital.
Flight schedule announced
According to the schedule, flight S5 605 will operate from Jharsuguda to Bhubaneswar at 7:20 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, arriving at 8:05 PM.
The return flight, S5 606, will depart Bhubaneswar at 8:30 PM and reach Jharsuguda at 9:15 PM on the same days.
Additionally, a mid-day service will run on Wednesdays, with S5 605 departing Jharsuguda at 11:45 AM and reaching Bhubaneswar at 12:30 PM, while S5 606 will leave Bhubaneswar at 1:00 PM and arrive in Jharsuguda at 1:45 PM.
Part of a wider network expansion
The new route is part of the airline’s larger expansion drive in Odisha and Gujarat. It recently inducted a new Embraer E175LR aircraft into its fleet, raising its strength to 11.
With this addition, the carrier plans to operate 300 flights per week starting August 16, before further increasing to 350 weekly flights from August 23, when additional services in Gujarat will be reintroduced.
The Jharsuguda–Bhubaneswar service is expected to strengthen economic and social ties between the two regions, catering to business travellers, students, and families alike. Aviation experts note that this route fills a critical gap in intra-state connectivity, especially at a time when demand for regional air travel is rising.