The Utkela airport received a license from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on August 7, 2023, for the commencement of its flight operations. The airport, located in the Kalahandi district of Odisha will soon operate flights to Bhubaneswar and Raipur. It aims to boost connectivity, commerce and tourism. As authorised by the license, the aerodrome can now be used for landing and departures. The regional airport was developed under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme. Initially, the GSEC Monarch was given the license to fly nine-seated commercial aircraft.