Star Air, the aviation arm of Sanjay Ghodawat Group, is expanding its network in Odisha with 24 new weekly flights from 4 September 2026, strengthening air connectivity between Telangana and the eastern state.

The expansion will include a new direct Hyderabad-Bhubaneswar service and the reinstatement of the Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda route. Both services will operate six days a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The new Hyderabad-Bhubaneswar connection will link two important business and economic centres. Hyderabad's strong presence across IT, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, education and business makes it an important travel market, while Bhubaneswar provides access to Odisha's cultural, religious and tourism destinations. The direct service is expected to support travel for business professionals, students, families and leisure travellers. From Bhubaneswar, visitors can also access popular destinations such as Puri and the Jagannath Temple, along with the Sun Temple at Konark.

Star Air will also bring back its Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda service, improving east-west connectivity within Odisha. The route will connect the state capital with Jharsuguda and the wider Sambalpur region, supporting access to industrial centres as well as destinations such as Samaleswari Temple, Huma and Hirakud Dam. With Jharsuguda Airport serving as an important aviation gateway for Sambalpur and neighbouring districts, the reinstated service is expected to support business travel, tourism, trade and regional economic activity.

Commenting on the expansion, Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Star Air, said, “With the introduction of direct Hyderabad - Bhubaneswar flights and the reinstatement of our Bhubaneswar–Jharsuguda services, we are strengthening connectivity across Telangana and Odisha, making it easier than ever to access the region’s key destinations. These services are designed to support the needs of business travellers, students, families, and leisure seekers alike. At Star Air, our commitment remains unwavering to empower regional economies, connect communities, and bring more of India within easier reach.”

The expanded schedule will give travellers more flexibility for business trips, family visits and leisure journeys while improving connections between key destinations across Odisha and Telangana.

The move comes as India's aviation sector continues to expand its regional network. Star Air's latest addition also aligns with the government's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) initiative, which aims to improve air connectivity to underserved and unserved airports. Tickets for both the new and reinstated routes are available through Star Air and leading travel platforms.

Regional airline FLY91 has added Tirupati as its 13th destination, further expanding its regional network across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. With the new addition, the airline now serves four destinations across the two states.

The airline will connect Tirupati with Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry, supporting travel for pilgrims, tourists, business travellers and students across southern India. Bookings for the new Tirupati services are now open through FLY91’s website and travel agency network.

Tirupati is one of India's major pilgrimage destinations and is home to the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala, which attracts millions of devotees. Beyond pilgrimage, the city is also an important educational, cultural and commercial centre in Andhra Pradesh.

Manoj Chacko, MD and CEO, FLY91, said, "The addition of Tirupati marks another important milestone in the steady expansion of our regional network and reinforces our commitment to Andhra Pradesh, where we now serve three destinations. By connecting Tirupati to 3 important cities, we are making travel across an important religious, educational and cultural corridor more convenient while improving connectivity between key regional centres. As a regional airline focused on 'Connecting Bharat' through safe and reliable air services, we remain committed to enhancing access between India's growing regional markets."

FLY91 will operate daily flights between Tirupati and Hyderabad. Flights between Tirupati and Vijayawada will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, while services between Tirupati and Rajahmundry will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

With Tirupati now added to its network, FLY91 serves Goa (Manohar International Airport, Mopa), Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Solapur, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Agatti, Kochi, Hubballi, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Tirupati. The addition strengthens FLY91’s focus on connecting regional markets and improving access between important destinations across India.

Air India Express has commenced operations from the newly inaugurated Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh, connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vijayawada.

The airline began operations from the new airport on August 17, 2026, with 10 daily flights serving the three key domestic destinations. The inaugural flight departed for Bengaluru at 8:00 AM, with guests receiving ceremonial boarding passes to mark the launch.

The new services strengthen air connectivity for Visakhapatnam and the surrounding region, while providing travellers with additional options to connect with major business, tourism and commercial centres across southern India.

Air India Express currently operates two daily flights between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad and two daily services between Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru, along with a daily service connecting Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

The Bengaluru–Visakhapatnam schedule also includes additional services on Thursdays and Saturdays, providing greater flexibility for travellers.

Flight Schedule

All timings are local and are effective from August 17, 2026.

The airline is also expanding its network from Andhra Pradesh with the addition of Tirupati, with daily flights connecting Tirupati and Hyderabad scheduled to commence from September 1, 2026.

From the same date, Air India Express will also resume its daily service on the Hyderabad–Chennai route, further strengthening connectivity between key cities in southern India.

With the latest additions, Air India Express currently serves 48 domestic and 16 international destinations, operating more than 3,000 weekly flights across India, Southeast Asia and West Asia.

The commencement of operations at Bhogapuram marks another step in the airline's network expansion strategy while strengthening connectivity to and from Visakhapatnam, one of Andhra Pradesh's important commercial, industrial and tourism centres.