Maa Mahamaya Airport

Maa Mahamaya Airport (IATA: AHA, ICAO: VEAP), also known as Ambikapur Airport and Darima Airport, is a domestic airport serving the city of Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh, India.^[4] It is located at Darima, 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the city centre. It also serves the surrounding northern part of the state consisting of nearby towns like Surajpur, Baikunthpur, Bhatgaon, Mainpat, Sitapur, Bishrampur, Balrampur and Ramanujganj. In the coming years, as the airport will develop, it will connect major cities like Jabalpur, New Delhi, Kolkata and Prayagraj with more airlines and bigger aircraft, resulting in enhanced development and employment opportunities to locals and the overall state.^[5]

Maa Mahamaya Airport
IATA: AHA ICAO: VEAP
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Government of Chhattisgarh
Operator	Airports Authority of India
Serves	Ambikapur
Location	Darima, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, India
Elevation AMSL	1,930 ft / 588 m
Coordinates	22°59′14.1″N 83°11′46.1″E
Website	Ambikapur Airport
Map
AHA Location of the airport in Chhattisgarh Show map of Chhattisgarh AHA AHA (India) Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 16/34 6,299 1,920 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2024 - March 2025)
Passengers 922 Aircraft movements 161 Cargo tonnage -
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

History

The airstrip in Darima area near Ambikapur was constructed in 1950. Then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited the airstrip in 1974.^[6] The airstrip was used for small aircraft and helicopters primarily for VIP visits.

The name of airport was changed from Darima Airport to "Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur" on 30 March 2021,^[7] In the name of Maa Mahamaya (Ambika Devi), the goddess of Ambikapur city.^[8]

Upgrade

The airstrip upgrade work was finished in May 2023 at a cost of Rs. 48 crore from category 2C to 3C,^[9] to enable operations of 70-72 seater aircraft under UDAN Scheme. Making this the Fourth Public Serving Airport in Chhattisgarh after Raipur, Jagdalpur and Bilaspur.^[10]

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  Ambikapur Airport
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  Airport entry
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  Rear view
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  Parking and landscaping
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  Runway view

Airlines and destinations

FlyBig has started its operations on 19 December 2024 in the airport. It operates on the airport three days a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).^{[citation needed]}

Airlines	Destinations
FlyBig	Raipur, Bilaspur

Operational status

Upgrades of the airport were completed in May 2023. The first test flight landed on 4 May 2023 by the Aviation authority. After approval of DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), flights to Delhi, Varanasi, and Raipur are proposed.^[11]

DGCA team inspected Ambikapur Airport on 15/05/2023.^[12] The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued the aerodrome license for Ambikapur airport in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district on 15/03/2024 to start flight operations^[13]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the airport on October 20, 2024.^[14]