Ranchi: The capital's Birsa Munda Airport is starting 24/7 operations from Saturday midnight aiming to attract more airlines to launch both domestic and international services.

As many as 27 flights operate at the integrated Airports Authority of India terminal, revamped with an investment of around Rs 138 crore in 2013.

"We will start operating round-the-clock from midnight (Saturday)," said terminal manager Manoj Prasad Singh. "The idea is to tell all aviation companies that we are ready to function 24/7. Now, it is their turn to plan flights even during night hours."

Airlines that operate services to and from Ranchi, primarily to Delhi, Calcutta, Bengaluru, Patna, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bhubaneswar, are Air India, Air Asia, Indigo, Go Air and Vistara.

Singh did not spell out the sectors that could open up as a result of 24x7 operations, but said that they were in talks with various companies. "From our end, we always keep trying but it is up to airlines to take a final call on the basis of feasibility," he said.

According to AAI statistics, the new Ranchi terminal, renovated in 2013, has so far served around 10 lakh passengers. Officials hope that number will touch 17 lakh by the end of this fiscal (2017-18).

"On an average, 7,000-7,500 passengers arrive or depart from Ranchi airport everyday. This number will increase once new flights are introduced and we hope 24/7 operations will help," said manager Singh.

Another officer said it was clear that more and more people were preferring flights in Jharkhand. "There are reasons behind that... we have been having regular sports events, various business summits, including the Global Investors' Summit, IT summit and mining conclave. This apart, common people are also travelling to the city often," he explained.