New Delhi: Ayodhya, the holy city of Lord Ram, is set to witness a surge in air connectivity as the Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced the launch of 8 new flight routes by SpiceJet from February 1, 2024. The new routes will connect Ayodhya with major cities like Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Patna, Darbhanga, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The flight services will be inaugurated by Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia, who will also flag off the first flight from Delhi to Ayodhya on February 1. SpiceJet will operate on these routes as per the following schedule, which is subject to change as per the demand and availability:
| FLIGHTS | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | FREQUENCY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi-Ayodhya | 10:40 | 12:00 | Daily (Except Wed.) |
| Ayodhya-Delhi | 08:40 | 10:40 | Daily (Except Wed.) |
| Chennai-Ayodhya | 12:40 | 15:15 | Daily |
| Ayodhya-Chennai | 16:00 | 19:20 | Daily |
| Ahmedabad-Ayodhya | 06:00 | 08:00 | Daily (Except Wed.) |
| Ayodhya-Ahmedabad | 12:30 | 14:25 | Daily (Except Wed.) |
| Jaipur-Ayodhya | 07:30 | 09:15 | 2, 4, 6 & 7 |
| Ayodhya-Jaipur | 15:45 | 17:30 | 2, 4, 6 & 7 |
| Patna-Ayodhya | 14:25 | 15:25 | 2, 4, 6 & 7 |
| Ayodhya-Patna | 13:00 | 14:00 | 2, 4, 6 & 7 |
| Darbhanga-Ayodhya | 11:20 | 12:30 | 2, 4, 6 & 7 |
| Ayodhya-Darbhanga | 09:40 | 10:50 | 2, 4, 6 & 7 |
| Mumbai-Ayodhya | 08:20 | 10:40 | Daily |
| Ayodhya-Mumbai | 11:15 | 13:20 | Daily |
| Bengaluru-Ayodhya | 10:50 | 13:30 | 1, 3, 5 & 7 |
| Ayodhya-Bengaluru | 14:10 | 16:45 | 1, 3, 5 & 7 |
The new flight routes are expected to boost tourism and pilgrimage activities in Ayodhya, which is the birthplace of Lord Ram and the site of the Shri Ram Temple. The temple, which is under construction, witnessed a historic ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony on January 22, 2024, where the idol of Lord Ram was installed in the sanctum sanctorum.
The ceremony, which was attended by around 8,000 devotees, also saw a huge demand for chartered flights to Ayodhya. According to the Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) President Captain R K Bali, 100 chartered flights were booked by various individuals and entities for January 22, and out of them, around 50 were business jets.
SpiceJet also operated a special flight from Delhi to Ayodhya on January 21, 2024, catering to passengers attending the auspicious ceremony. The airline had also arranged a return flight on the same day to ensure a seamless travel experience for devotees.
