The Maharshi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya will receive around 50 non-scheduled charter flights between 24 and 25 November for the highly publicised ‘dhwaj’ flag-hoisting ceremony at the under-construction Ram Mandir, to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.
Because the new airport has limited parking stands, incoming business jets will reposition to Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Kanpur after drop-off, mirroring arrangements used for Davos and UNGA movements. Additional CISF staff and dedicated VVIP lounges have been installed, while charter operators must file flight plans by the evening of 24 November; movements are barred once the prime-ministerial Boeing 777 is on the ground.
![Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir ceremony to bring 50 chartered jets, stretching northern India’s apron capacity]()
For corporate travel planners the slot-constrained environment means potential cascade effects on regional schedules in Uttar Pradesh. Ground-handling invoices are also expected to surge, with one FBO quoting INR 3 lakh for a single turnaround—double the normal Lucknow rate. Multinationals sending expat executives should confirm hotel allotments early; organisers have blocked 1,600 rooms and tented camps, and state government circulars restrict unaccredited vehicles inside Ayodhya’s security perimeter.
While the event is domestic, the influx of charter lift underscores the growing demand for bespoke aviation services around India’s religious tourism boom—an emerging opportunity for biz-av providers and concierge visas teams that support foreign VIP delegations.
Because the new airport has limited parking stands, incoming business jets will reposition to Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Kanpur after drop-off, mirroring arrangements used for Davos and UNGA movements. Additional CISF staff and dedicated VVIP lounges have been installed, while charter operators must file flight plans by the evening of 24 November; movements are barred once the prime-ministerial Boeing 777 is on the ground.
For corporate travel planners the slot-constrained environment means potential cascade effects on regional schedules in Uttar Pradesh. Ground-handling invoices are also expected to surge, with one FBO quoting INR 3 lakh for a single turnaround—double the normal Lucknow rate. Multinationals sending expat executives should confirm hotel allotments early; organisers have blocked 1,600 rooms and tented camps, and state government circulars restrict unaccredited vehicles inside Ayodhya’s security perimeter.
While the event is domestic, the influx of charter lift underscores the growing demand for bespoke aviation services around India’s religious tourism boom—an emerging opportunity for biz-av providers and concierge visas teams that support foreign VIP delegations.
