According to aviation officials, the flights will depart from Maa Mahamaya Airport using 72-seater ATR aircraft. The route expansion is aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity, improving travel access for residents, and boosting business and administrative mobility between the state’s northern districts and the capital.
Alliance Air already operates thrice-weekly flights between Bilaspur and Delhi. With the addition of Ambikapur as an origin point, Monday services will be extended to include the new sector. Aviation sources say the base fare aligns with existing regional pricing, where Bilaspur–Delhi tickets typically start above ₹4,000.
The Ambikapur airport first saw scheduled flights in December 2024 under the regional connectivity scheme when FlyBig launched 19-seater services to Raipur and Bilaspur. However, irregular operations led to the suspension of those flights within six months, leaving the airport inactive for over half a year. Officials believe the entry of a larger operator with higher-capacity aircraft will stabilize operations and restore passenger confidence.
Local Member of Parliament Chintamani Maharaj welcomed the development, describing it as a long-awaited step toward improving connectivity in the Surguja region. He confirmed that discussions have also taken place with IndiGo regarding a proposed route linking Raipur, Ambikapur, and Prayagraj. The proposal has reportedly been raised in regional development meetings with state authorities.
Alliance Air, formerly a subsidiary of Air India and now an independent government-owned airline under the Government of India, operates about 137 daily domestic flights connecting 57 cities. From Chhattisgarh, it already runs services from Raipur to Hyderabad and Jagdalpur.
Officials say the new Ambikapur–Delhi link is expected to support tourism, healthcare travel, and administrative access while integrating remote districts more closely with national transport networks. If passenger demand remains steady, aviation planners indicate additional frequencies could be considered in future schedules.
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