Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Monday, 5 October 2026, assured West Bengal that his Ministry would shortly begin discussions with airline companies to facilitate direct flights connecting Kolkata with major European cities, including London. The assurance came during Naidu's visit to Kolkata for the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the West Bengal government for the development of four new airports in the state.

What Was Signed and Where

The MoUs cover four new regional airports to be developed at Chharra in Purulia district, Balurghat in South Dinajpur district, Hasimara Civil Enclave in Alipurduar district, and Kalaikunda in West Midnapore district. Notably, Hasimara and Kalaikunda are also significant bases of the Indian Air Force, adding a strategic dimension to their civilian development.

Eight Airports: The Bigger Target

Minister Naidu revealed that the Ministry's broader ambition is to establish a total of eight new airports in West Bengal, with Monday's MoUs covering the first four. He outlined a clear division of responsibilities: the Centre will handle core airport infrastructure and technical aspects — including runway renovation and terminal buildings — while the state government will provide land, connecting roads, power supply, water supply, and basic security under the Regional Connectivity Scheme.

'The Union government will fully cooperate with the state government in this matter. The work of new airport development will be carried out in coordination between the Centre and the state. Attention will be paid to runway renovation and terminal buildings. The Central Government will look after the technical aspects of the airports,' Naidu said at the signing ceremony.

What the Chief Minister Requested

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari used the occasion to press two additional demands. He urged Naidu to initiate the process for direct flights from Kolkata to European cities — a long-standing gap in India's eastern aviation connectivity — and separately requested the establishment of a pilot training institute in West Bengal. Adhikari said the four new airports would significantly improve air connectivity infrastructure across the state.

Why Kolkata-Europe Connectivity Matters

Kolkata currently lacks non-stop long-haul routes to Europe, forcing passengers to connect through Delhi, Mumbai, or Gulf hubs — adding hours of travel time and cost. A direct Kolkata-London or Kolkata-European city route would benefit West Bengal's business community, its large diaspora in the United Kingdom, and the region's growing tourism sector. This comes amid the Centre's push to expand regional aviation under the UDAN scheme and position tier-1 cities beyond Mumbai and Delhi as international gateways. Whether airlines will find the commercial case compelling for such routes remains to be seen, as load-factor viability on long-haul eastern India routes has historically been a barrier.

What Happens Next

The Ministry is expected to initiate airline consultations shortly, though no timeline has been confirmed for when direct European routes could materialise. Development of the four new airports under the signed MoUs is set to proceed in a Centre-state coordinated framework, with the first phase focused on Purulia, South Dinajpur, Alipurduar, and West Midnapore districts.