Bhubaneswar Airport waiting times have become a little more engaging for book lovers across India, thanks to the Flybrary initiative that began as a pilot project at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar and has now expanded to 68 airports nationwide.
The free, self-service library concept, conceptualised by Sujit Mahapatra, founder of the Bakul Foundation that has been running a library movement in Odisha to promote the habit of reading among people and children in particular, in partnership with the Airports Authority of India, allows passengers to browse shelves, select any book that interests them, and read it while waiting for their flight or carry it onboard for the journey. Upon reaching their destination, travellers are encouraged to return the book to a Flybrary there. At some airports, passengers may take books home and return them on a future visit as donations of personal books help sustain the cycle of sharing.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu recently spotlighted the initiative after reposting a video by content creator @travelermohit. “Delighted to see passengers welcoming Flybrary! This special initiative is now available at 68 airports across the country. Simply pick up a book of your choice at departure and return it upon arrival” he wrote on his official X handle.
The minister described it as one of several measures aimed at making airports more passenger-centric, alongside UDAN Yatri Cafes, Awasar SHG outlets, Kids Zones and free Wi-Fi.
Mohit, who encountered a Flybrary at Ranchi Airport, initially mistook the shelves for a conventional library before reading the notice and grasping the system. “What a brilliant initiative… what deep thought,” he declared, adding that for travellers who love reading, it could rank among the best spots in an airport.
Delighted to see passengers welcoming Flybrary! This special initiative is now available at 68 airports across the country.
Simply pick up a book of your choice at departure and return it upon arrival.
This is one of the special interventions we have undertaken, along with UDAN… pic.twitter.com/2rloLl7lpa
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) August 13, 2026
Launched in February 2025 at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport with shelves in both the departure and arrival areas stocked with novels, magazines, self-help titles, children’s literature and works in English, Hindi and Odia, the community-driven effort quickly gained traction. Flybraries now operate at locations including Ranchi, Bhuj, Darbhanga, Khajuraho, Kullu-Manali, Mangaluru, Diu, Amritsar and many others.
Rather than creating traditional libraries inside terminals, the initiative focuses on making books freely accessible during travel and fostering a culture of sharing among passengers.