Datia is a district in Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region that most travellers pass through on their way to Gwalior or Orchha without realising what they are missing. The Bir Singh Deo Palace — a seven-storey 17th-century structure built under the Bundela Rajput king who commissioned the Jahangir Mahal at Orchha — towers over the town’s skyline as one of the most extraordinary pre-Mughal palaces surviving anywhere in India. Pitambara Peeth, a powerful Shakti temple drawing lakhs of devotees annually, adds a significant pilgrimage current to Datia’s visitor profile. The district is approximately 29 kilometres from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh — a city of much greater size that was always the more logical destination for an airport in this sub-region. Datia Airport exists at the intersection of these realities: an AAI-upgraded airstrip that received its DGCA public aerodrome licence on 21 February 2025 under the 3C/VFR category, was virtually inaugurated by PM Modi on 31 May 2025, carries IATA code DPP and ICAO code VIDT, and is now Madhya Pradesh’s eighth public airport. FlyBig operates the sole scheduled services — to Bhopal and Khajuraho — using De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
Quick Overview: Datia Airport
| Detail | Information |
| Airport Name | Datia Airport |
| Location | Datia, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Serves | Datia and Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh, ~29 km) |
| Airport Type | Public — Domestic (3C/VFR category) |
| IATA Code | DPP |
| ICAO Code | VIDT |
| Owner/Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| DGCA Licence Granted | 21 February 2025 |
| Virtually Inaugurated | 31 May 2025 (PM Modi, alongside Satna Airport) |
| Status | Madhya Pradesh’s 8th public airport |
| Land Area | ~118 acres |
| Runway Length | 1,810 m × 30 m (recarpeted) |
| Terminal Area | 768 sq. metres |
| Terminal Peak Capacity | 150 passengers |
| Coordinates | 25°38′59.9″N, 78°30′11.4″E |
| Expansion Plan Foundation Stone | 21 August 2023 (Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia) |
| Scheduled Airline | FlyBig |
| Active Routes | Bhopal, Khajuraho |
| Aircraft Type | De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter |
| Route Frequency | 6 flights/week per destination (as of January 2026) |
| Scheme | UDAN regional connectivity |
| Distance from Jhansi | ~29 km |
Datia Airport Location: Bundelkhand at the MP–UP Border
Datia Airport is located in Datia town, Madhya Pradesh, at coordinates 25°38′59.9″N, 78°30′11.4″E. The airport sits in the Bundelkhand region — the historic territory straddling Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh that was ruled by successive Bundela Rajput kingdoms whose architectural legacy (the palaces at Datia, Orchha, and Samthar) is among the most underappreciated in central India.
The airport’s dual-city catchment is a defining feature. Datia itself is a district headquarters town of moderate size — its Bir Singh Deo Palace and Pitambara Peeth temple are significant but don’t yet draw the tourism volumes of better-known destinations. Jhansi, approximately 29 kilometres from the airport, is a far more commercially active city — the headquarters of Jhansi district in Uttar Pradesh, a major railway junction on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai main lines, and the base for visitors to Orchha and Khajuraho. Jhansi’s proximity makes the airport potentially valuable to both the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh catchments.
Gwalior Airport (GWL) is approximately 80 kilometres northwest and provides the nearest alternative commercial aviation. Orchha is approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Jhansi. Khajuraho Airport (HJR) — one of Datia Airport’s own scheduled destinations — is approximately 200 kilometres southeast.
Datia Airport Code: IATA DPP and ICAO VIDT
The airport’s IATA code is DPP and its ICAO code is VIDT. DPP is the booking identifier for Datia in airline systems. VIDT places the airport in the VI northern India block. The aerodrome licence granted on 21 February 2025 under category 3C/VFR enables operations for regional turboprop aircraft of the ATR-72 and Twin Otter class in visual flight rules conditions. Day VFR operations only — night landing facilities are not yet in place.
Datia Airport Terminal: Upgraded Airstrip With a 768-Square-Metre Building
The airport was upgraded by AAI from a basic airstrip into a licensable public aerodrome. The airstrip spans approximately 118 acres. The runway — recarpeted as part of the upgrade — is 1,810 metres by 30 metres, capable of accommodating ATR-72 aircraft with plans for future extension to handle A320 class jets.
The terminal building covers 768 square metres — a compact but functional single-level structure designed to process 150 peak-hour passengers. This capacity is appropriate for FlyBig’s DHC-6 Twin Otter operations, which carry 19 passengers per flight on the Bhopal and Khajuraho routes. The terminal has basic check-in facilities, security screening, a waiting area, and restrooms.
The development timeline began with the foundation stone for airstrip expansion laid by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on 21 August 2023. The DGCA issued the public aerodrome licence in February 2025, and PM Modi virtually inaugurated the airport on 31 May 2025 alongside Satna Airport — both launches part of the UDAN scheme’s expansion of Madhya Pradesh’s aviation network.
FlyBig, operating under the UDAN scheme’s Viability Gap Funding framework, serves as the sole scheduled carrier. The airline uses De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter twin-turboprop aircraft — a 19-seater STOL aircraft capable of operating from shorter runways with minimal ground infrastructure. Routes connect Datia to Bhopal (approximately 1 hour 40 minutes) and to Khajuraho (approximately 50 minutes), creating a triangular connectivity linking three of Madhya Pradesh’s most culturally significant locations.
Datia Airport Connectivity: FlyBig to Bhopal and Khajuraho
By Air: FlyBig operates 6 flights per week per destination — Bhopal and Khajuraho — using DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. The Khajuraho service (approximately 50 minutes) is particularly notable, creating a direct air link between the Datia-Jhansi zone and the UNESCO-listed Khajuraho temple complex that previously required a 5 to 6 hour drive. Bhopal, the state capital, is reachable in approximately 1 hour 40 minutes by air versus over 4 hours by road. Confirm current schedules with FlyBig before booking — UDAN-scheme frequencies are subject to VGF renewal and airline operational decisions.
By Road: Datia is connected to Gwalior (approximately 80 km northwest), Jhansi (approximately 29 km northeast, Uttar Pradesh), Orchha (approximately 50 km via Jhansi), and Bhopal (approximately 350 km south) by road. State buses and private taxis serve these routes. Local taxis connect the airport to Datia town and to Jhansi.
By Rail: Datia Railway Station is on the Jhansi-Gwalior section of the Central Railway’s Delhi-Mumbai main line, with regular trains connecting to Gwalior (approximately 1.5 hours), Jhansi (approximately 30 minutes), Agra, Delhi, and Mumbai. Jhansi Junction, 29 km from the airport, is a major railway junction with Shatabdi Express connectivity to Delhi (approximately 4 hours) and other national destinations.
Datia Airport Amenities: Basic UDAN-Standard Facility
The 768-square-metre terminal at Datia Airport provides the essential services for a first-phase UDAN regional airport: check-in counters for FlyBig, security screening, a small passenger waiting area, and restrooms. The 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft means the entire boarding process is handled with minimal infrastructure — direct walk from terminal to aircraft, no aerobridge required. There is no commercial lounge, no duty-free, and no food court. Basic drinking water and seating are available.
Ground transport from the airport is by local taxi to Datia town (approximately 15 to 20 minutes) or to Jhansi (approximately 45 to 60 minutes by road). The proximity to Pitambara Peeth temple — one of the most powerful Shakti shrines in central India, drawing devotees from across MP and UP — could generate consistent pilgrim-season demand for the Datia route if service frequency expands with the UDAN network’s growth.
FAQs: Datia Airport
Q1. What is the IATA code for Datia Airport?
The IATA code is DPP and the ICAO code is VIDT. Datia Airport received its DGCA public aerodrome licence on 21 February 2025 and was virtually inaugurated by PM Modi on 31 May 2025 as Madhya Pradesh’s eighth public airport.
Q2. Which airline operates from Datia Airport and what routes?
FlyBig operates 6 flights per week to both Bhopal and Khajuraho using De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 19-seater aircraft. Both routes operate under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
Q3. Does Datia Airport also serve Jhansi?
Yes. The airport is approximately 29 kilometres from Jhansi city in Uttar Pradesh and is officially listed as serving both Datia and Jhansi. It is the nearest commercial airport to Jhansi.
Q4. What tourist attractions are near Datia Airport?
Bir Singh Deo Palace in Datia (a 17th-century Bundela palace considered one of central India’s most remarkable), Pitambara Peeth temple, Orchha (approximately 50 km via Jhansi), Jhansi Fort, and Khajuraho UNESCO temples (accessible by direct flight in approximately 50 minutes) are the main draws.
Q5. What type of aircraft operates at Datia Airport?
FlyBig uses the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter — a 19-seat twin-turboprop STOL aircraft capable of operating from the 1,810-metre runway without requiring the longer runways that ATR-72 and A320 class aircraft demand.
