Ranchi, April 19: The Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team will perform for the first time in Ranchi this weekend, as the capital of Jharkhand prepares to host a grand air show amid growing passenger frustration over the suspension of the direct Ranchi–Raipur flight.
The event will take place on April 19 and 20 at Khoja Toli Army Ground in Namkum, with performances scheduled from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. each day. During the show, airspace over Ranchi will be closed for safety, according to authorities.
While the skies will dazzle spectators below, air travellers have expressed dismay over the discontinuation of direct flights between Ranchi and Raipur. The route, which once connected Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in just 450 kilometres, now requires multiple connections via Kolkata, Delhi, or Chennai, extending travel time to between 8 and 12 hours and increasing ticket prices to as much as ₹25,000.
“The number of passengers going from Ranchi to Raipur is very high. But, due to the flight being stopped, the problems of the passengers have increased,” said Rajnish Kumar, a frequent traveller.
Dinesh Prasad Sahu, Chairman of the Birsa Munda Civil Aviation Sub-Committee, called for the immediate reintroduction of the flight, citing both public inconvenience and economic potential.
“There is a huge scope of trade between Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and a large number of passengers travel between them,” Sahu said. “A direct flight was earlier launched due to demand, and it had sufficient passengers. It was stopped without any reason.”
Despite regional connectivity challenges, Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport is posting strong financial results. Airport Director R.R. Maurya said the airport expects to record a ₹50 crore profit for the fiscal year 2024–25. “Though the final report is pending, the profit is expected to touch ₹50 crore,” Maurya noted.
Currently, 28 flights operate from the airport daily, serving approximately 8,600 passengers. Major carriers include Indigo and Air India Express. Revenue sources contributing to the airport’s growth include terminal advertising, overnight aircraft parking, and expanding retail and food outlets.
Airport authorities say more passenger amenities are planned for the near future, even as demand grows for improved inter-state air links.
