Vadodara Airport is set to get air taxi services connecting it to key destinations like Bhuj, Diu, and Porbandar by October this year. The move is expected to boost regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme.
Once the service begins, travel time will be cut significantly. Passengers will be able to reach Diu in about an hour, Dwarka in nearly two hours, and Kutch in around three hours—compared to the current 8–10 hours by road. The flights will use small 8-seater aircraft, with ticket prices likely to remain affordable due to government support.
Airport Director M.S.I. Dawood said approvals have already been granted for these routes, and only a few formalities are left before the launch. The service is expected to benefit business travellers and industrialists by improving access between Vadodara and the Saurashtra-Kutch region.
The initiative is also likely to boost tourism, trade, and medical travel. Industries such as seafood, handicrafts, chemicals, and engineering are expected to benefit from faster connectivity.
Travel time to Bhuj will be reduced to about 50–60 minutes, to Diu around 45–60 minutes, and to Porbandar about an hour. Tourist destinations like Dwarkadhish Temple, Rann of Kutch, and the Statue of Unity are also expected to see increased footfall.
Additionally, plans are underway to set up a UDAN Yatri Café at the airport, offering affordable snacks and beverages to passengers.
In another achievement, Vadodara Airport secured second place in the Category-2 airports segment in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by the Airports Authority of India. The award was presented in New Delhi on March 31.