Malkangiri: Malkangiri Airport marked a significant milestone in regional connectivity on Wednesday with successful conduct of its maiden passenger aircraft trial run, paving the way for the launch of commercial flight services within the next month.
The trial was carried out under the supervision of the Malkangiri district administration and the Directorate of Aviation, Government of Odisha. A Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX aircraft operated by IndiaOne Air departed from Jeypore and landed smoothly at the Malkangiri Airport at 2:20 pm. The aircraft was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute by the airport’s fire services team after its successful touchdown.
Officials said the successful technical evaluation has cleared the way for the commencement of non-scheduled commercial flight services under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN. In the initial phase, flights will operate based on confirmed passenger bookings, with services expected to begin within a month.
District Collector Ashwini S. described the successful trial landing as a landmark in Malkangiri’s connectivity journey. He said the district administration, in coordination with all stakeholders, is fully prepared to launch regular flight services for the public within a month. The new air link is expected to improve accessibility while creating fresh opportunities for tourism, trade and economic development in the district.
Senior civil and police officials supervised the ground operations during the trial, including Superintendent of Police Binod Patil, Divisional Forest Officer Sai Kiran, Additional District Magistrates Bedabara Pradhan and Somnath Pradhan, and Sub-Collector Duryodhana Bhoi. Superintending Engineer (R&B) Rabindra Kumar Behera oversaw the technical readiness of the airstrip and associated infrastructure.
The flight crew, led by Chief Pilot Captain Prem Kumar Garg and Co-pilot Satish S.K., appreciated the airport’s operational infrastructure and certified the airside facilities as safe and suitable for flight operations. A high-level safety team from Bhubaneswar, comprising Assistant Director (Security) M.K. Das, Assistant Director (Aero Safety) Niraj Kumar Nayak and Malkangiri Airport Accountable Manager Ashok Kumar Raut, also completed the final safety evaluation.
To facilitate operations after the commercial launch, a dedicated desk officer will be posted at the District Collectorate, while the Tourism Department will coordinate passenger information and promotional activities.
The airport currently has a 1,500-metre-long and 30-metre-wide runway capable of handling small aircraft. The Odisha government plans to extend the runway to 3,000 metres in the next phase, enabling operations of larger 19-seater aircraft and further strengthening Malkangiri’s air connectivity with major economic centres.
