Odisha's tier-2 airports in 2026 — Jharsuguda (JRG) and Rourkela (RRK) compared
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma writes about Indian airport infrastructure, tier-2 and regional hubs, and the route networks of Indian carriers. He tracks AAI terminal projects, UDAN regional connectivity awards and the Gulf expansion of IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa for FlightGPT readers.) · Published · Last updated · 10 min read
Odisha's air map is mostly Bhubaneswar, but two industrial-belt airports — Jharsuguda and Rourkela — give western Odisha its own wings. One is a steady IndiGo hub, the other a fragile UDAN service. Here's the honest 2026 comparison.
Quick answer
Outside the main Bhubaneswar airport, Odisha's two notable tier-2 airports both serve the western industrial belt. Jharsuguda — Veer Surendra Sai Airport (IATA JRG, ICAO VEJH) is the state's second commercial airport, about 5 km from Jharsuguda, with steady IndiGo and Alliance Air service to Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Delhi, plus Star Air additions. Rourkela Airport (IATA RRK, ICAO VERK), about 6 km from Rourkela, is a smaller UDAN airport handling ATR-72 turboprops — its Alliance Air service to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata has been fragile, with frequent cancellations. Net: JRG is the more reliable of the two as of 2026. Verify the live schedule on the AAI/airline sites.
Why western Odisha needed its own airports
Odisha's economy leans heavily on its mineral and industrial belt — coal, steel, aluminium and power — concentrated in the western districts around Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Rourkela. For decades, the only real airport in the state was Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, on the coast — a long road or rail journey (often 6-8 hours) from the western industrial towns. That's a serious drag on business in a region full of large public-sector and private plants (think Rourkela Steel Plant, the Vedanta and Hindalco aluminium operations near Jharsuguda, and the surrounding mining economy).
The fix came through a mix of AAI development and the central UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme, which subsidises flights on thin routes to make small-airport service viable. Jharsuguda and Rourkela are both products of that push — though, as we'll see, they've had very different fortunes. For the wider state, see our Odisha destination guide.
Jharsuguda (JRG) — the steady one
Veer Surendra Sai Airport at Jharsuguda is the more successful of the two. It received a 4C-category licence from the DGCA in 2018, making it Odisha's second commercial airport after Bhubaneswar, and it can handle jet aircraft like the A320 — not just turboprops. It sits about 5 km northeast of Jharsuguda town.
As of 2026 the carriers and typical routes include:
- IndiGo — the main operator, flying jet services to Bengaluru (JRG's longest route, around 2 hours), Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Delhi.
- Alliance Air — regional connectivity, including Bhubaneswar.
- Star Air — has been adding routes such as Hyderabad, Raipur and Lucknow, expanding the map.
JRG is genuinely useful for the Jharsuguda-Sambalpur industrial belt — a steady, jet-capable airport with a growing network. Compare fares and timings on FlightGPT.
Rourkela (RRK) — the fragile one
Rourkela Airport, near Chhend Colony about 6 km west of the city, is a different story — a smaller airport built to handle ATR-72 turboprops, with an apron for two aircraft and a general-aviation terminal. Commercial operations began in January 2023, with Alliance Air flying to Bhubaneswar and, from September 2023, Kolkata under the UDAN scheme.
The honest reality: Rourkela's service has been fragile. Alliance Air has struggled with frequent cancellations here, attributed to a tight flight schedule and visibility issues at the airport. The Odisha government has had to invite other operators to run flights on the Rourkela routes to improve reliability. So while RRK exists and serves an important steel city, you should treat its flights as less dependable than Jharsuguda's and always confirm the flight is operating before relying on it.
If reliability matters for your trip, it may sometimes make sense to use Jharsuguda (a couple of hours away by road) or even Bhubaneswar instead — weigh the road time against the cancellation risk.
Which to use — a practical comparison
A quick side-by-side for the two western-Odisha airports as of 2026:
| Feature | Jharsuguda (JRG) | Rourkela (RRK) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Odisha's 2nd commercial airport; jet-capable (A320) | UDAN airport; ATR-72 turboprops |
| Distance from city | ~5 km | ~6 km |
| Main carriers | IndiGo, Alliance Air, Star Air | Alliance Air (UDAN) |
| Key routes | Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Delhi, + Star Air additions | Bhubaneswar, Kolkata |
| Reliability (2026) | Steadier, jet network | Fragile; frequent cancellations reported |
Bottom line: Jharsuguda is the workhorse of western Odisha's air connectivity, while Rourkela is a useful but less reliable UDAN service. Both are very close to their respective city centres, which is a genuine convenience.
Getting to and from these airports
Both airports are refreshingly close to town:
- Jharsuguda (JRG): about 5 km northeast of Jharsuguda town — a 10-15 minute drive. Taxis and autos are the main options.
- Rourkela (RRK): about 6 km west of Rourkela near Chhend Colony — a 15-20 minute drive. Taxis and autos serve it.
- Catchment overlap: Sambalpur sits between/near the belt; depending on the route and reliability, travellers there choose between JRG, RRK and Bhubaneswar.
Practical tips for flying Odisha's tier-2 airports in 2026
- Prefer Jharsuguda for reliability: it has the jet network and a steadier record; Rourkela's UDAN flights have seen frequent cancellations.
- Confirm Rourkela flights: if you must use RRK, verify the flight is operating and have a road/rail backup ready.
- Watch visibility-season disruptions: winter fog and low visibility affect these airports — keep a buffer on onward connections.
- Star Air watch: Jharsuguda's network is expanding via Star Air; check for new routes that might suit your trip.
- As of 2026, verify on the AAI and airline sites — UDAN routes in particular change and pause more often than trunk routes.
Frequently asked questions
What are Odisha's tier-2 airports besides Bhubaneswar?
Beyond Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha's two notable tier-2 airports are Jharsuguda — Veer Surendra Sai Airport (JRG) — and Rourkela Airport (RRK), both serving the western industrial belt.
What is the IATA code for Jharsuguda airport?
Jharsuguda's Veer Surendra Sai Airport uses the IATA code JRG (ICAO: VEJH). It is about 5 km northeast of Jharsuguda and is Odisha's second commercial airport, capable of handling jet aircraft.
Which airlines and routes operate from Jharsuguda (JRG)?
As of 2026 IndiGo is the main operator, flying jets to Bengaluru (the longest route, about 2 hours), Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Delhi. Alliance Air provides regional connectivity, and Star Air has been adding routes such as Hyderabad, Raipur and Lucknow.
Is Rourkela airport reliable?
As of 2026, Rourkela (RRK) has been fragile. Its Alliance Air UDAN service (ATR-72 turboprops to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata) has seen frequent cancellations attributed to a tight schedule and visibility issues, and the state has invited other operators to improve reliability. Confirm your flight and keep a backup.
What is the IATA code for Rourkela airport?
Rourkela Airport uses the IATA code RRK (ICAO: VERK). It is about 6 km west of Rourkela near Chhend Colony, and as of 2026 handles ATR-72 turboprop services under the UDAN scheme.
Should I use Jharsuguda, Rourkela or Bhubaneswar for western Odisha?
For reliability, Jharsuguda (JRG) is the workhorse with a jet network. Rourkela (RRK) is convenient but its UDAN flights are less dependable. If your route or dates look risky at RRK, weigh the road time to Jharsuguda or coastal Bhubaneswar against the cancellation risk.