Utkela Airport (IATA: UKE, ICAO: VEUK) is a domestic airport owned by the Government of Odisha located at Utkela in Kalahandi district, Odisha, India.[5] It is situated 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Bhawanipatna. The airport has been designated to be developed as a regional airport under the government's UDAN Scheme.[6][7]

Utkela Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Odisha
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesBhawanipatna
LocationUtkela, Kalahandi district, Odisha, India
Opened31 August 2023; 14 months ago (2023-08-31)[1]
Elevation AMSL685 ft / 210 m
Coordinates20°05′52″N 083°11′00″E / 20.09778°N 83.18333°E / 20.09778; 83.18333
Map
UKE is located in Odisha
UKE
UKE
Location in Odisha
UKE is located in India
UKE
UKE
UKE (India)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 3,020 920 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024)
Passengers1,155 Increase
Aircraft movements208 Increase
Cargo tonnage
Source: AAI[2][3][4]

Development

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To improve development, connectivity and tourism in Odisha, the airport has been selected to develop and make it as a regional airport and eventually as a domestic airport by the Ministry of Civil Aviation as part of the UDAN Scheme. Since decades, the airport used to handle only private and government flights, when in August 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation granted license to the airport necessary for starting commercial flights. The airport has been selected to begin commercial flights to Bhubaneswar and Raipur within the coming months.[8] On 31 August 2023, the regional airline IndiaOne Air began flights to Bhubaneswar.[1]

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
IndiaOne AirBhubaneswar, Raipur[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Cassian, Baliarsingh (31 August 2023). "Odisha's Utkela Airport welcomes first flight from Bhubaneswar; check timings, price, other details". Odisha TV. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  5. ^ "AAI Unserved Airports" (PDF). aai.aero. Airports Authority of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  6. ^ "Utkela Airport". centreforaviation.com. CAPA. Archived from the original on 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  7. ^ "List of Airstrip in the State maintained by State Government" (PDF). ct.odisha.gov.in. Commerce and Transport Department, Government of Odisha. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. ^ Pradhan, Hemanta (7 August 2023). "Utkela airport receives DGCA license to start flight operations". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.