Biju Patnaik Airport (IATA: BBI, ICAO: VEBS) is an international airport serving Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, India. It is situated around 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south-west of Bhubaneswar Railway Station and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the city center.[4] In fiscal year 2023-24, it handled over 4.6 million passengers.[1] Named after the former chief minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik, a famed aviator and freedom fighter, it is the 14th busiest airport in India and the 11th busiest among the airports maintained by the Airports Authority of India.
Biju Patnaik Airport | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Bhubaneswar | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India | ||||||||||||||
| Opened | 17 April 1962 | ||||||||||||||
| Hub for | IndiaOne Air | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 42 m / 138 ft | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 20°14′40″N 085°49′04″E / 20.24444°N 85.81778°E | ||||||||||||||
| Website | Biju Patnaik International Airport | ||||||||||||||
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  BBI Location of airport in Odisha  BBI BBI (India) | |||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (April 2023 – March 2024) | |||||||||||||||
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History
editThe airport was dedicated to the people of Odisha on 17 April 1962, becoming the first ever commercial airport in the state. The airport boasts two active scheduled passenger terminals i.e. Terminals 1 and 2 for domestic and international passengers respectively. The former Minister of Civil Aviation, Ajit Singh, inaugurated Terminal 1 on 5 March 2013, which caters to domestic passengers, whereas Terminal 2 was then refurbished to handle international operations.[5] The Government of India accorded international status to the airport on 30 October 2013 after Air India started flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and AirAsia started flights to Kuala Lumpur.[6][7][8] However, these routes were terminated later due to Covid19.[9] International operations recommenced from Bhubaneswar in May 2023 after IndiGo started direct flights to Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore.[10][11] AirAsia is going to be the first international airline to resume flights to Bhubaneswar after a long hiatus of 4 years on 28 May 2024.[12]
On 7 May 2023, the airport opened a 4 MW solar plant, which switched it to a fully sustainable and energy-saving airport, by running entirely on renewable energy.[13]
Terminals
editBiju Patnaik Airport serves as one of Eastern India's major civil aviation hubs. The airport boasts two actively scheduled passenger terminals, i.e., Terminals 1 and 2.
Terminal 1
editInaugurated in March 2013, the terminal has a capacity of 4 million passengers per annum and was built at a cost of ₹ 1.45 billion by Lanco Infratech.[14][5][15]The AAI has developed the new terminal as part of the upgrade of 35 non-metro airports across the country.[16] Terminal 1, a two-storied building with a total area of 18,240 square metres (196,300 sq ft), consists of 4 aerobridges, 4 elevators, several escalators, 18 check-in counters, 3 arrival luggage conveyors, a spa, and multiple seating areas. Apart from the Departure and Arrival Lounges, Terminal 1 also has several other lounges, including VIP Lounges, Pal Heights Spa Lounge, Dakota Lounge and Mayfair Lounge.[5][17] The terminal is environment-friendly, built according to green building standards, with sewage treatment plants and provision for rain water harvesting. The internal walls of the terminal are decorated with tribal motifs, designs, masks, and sculptures derived from Odisha's culture.[18] The new terminal also has food kiosks, gift shops, bookstores, art galleries and handloom/handicraft kiosks.[19]
Terminal 2
editTerminal 2 handles international operations. It was built in the mid-1960s to cater domestic flights. The terminal being built over an area of 6,264 square metres (67,430 sq ft), consists of 6 check-in counters, 10 immigration counters, 4 customs counters, numerous amenities and multiple seating areas.[20] A link building connecting Terminal 1 and 2 is being constructed with a budget of 872 million. It will be used for domestic and international arrivals.[21]
Coast Guard Air Enclave
editThe Coast Guard Air Enclave along with the 743 Dornier Squadron was commissioned by former Vice-Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard in Biju Patnaik International Airport on 15 December 2014.[22] The units operate under the operational and administrative control of the Commander of the Coast Guard Region (North East) through the Commander, Coast Guard District No 7 (Odisha). Several strategic air operations are streamlined and synergised for the protection of the sea areas off the Coastal Odisha.[23]
Airlines and destinations
edit| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| AirAsia | Kuala Lumpur–International[24] |
| Air India Express | Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune |
| Akasa Air | Bangalore[25] |
| Alliance Air | Jharsuguda, Kolkata, Rourkela |
| IndiaOne Air | Berhampur,[26] Bhawanipatna,[27] Jamshedpur,[28] Jeypore |
| IndiGo | Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[11] Chennai, Delhi, Dubai–International, Durgapur (begins 30 August 2024),[29] Guwahati,[30] Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai,[31] Patna, Prayagraj, Raipur, Ranchi, Singapore,[11] Varanasi |
| Vistara | Delhi, Mumbai[32] |
Incidents
edit- On 22 December 2007, while Surya Kiran, Indian Air Force's aerobatics demonstration team, was undergoing training exercise, one of its four HAL HJT-16 Kiran jets, after refueling and takeoff, caught fire and crash landed on the runway of Biju Patnaik Airport. The pilot was safely rescued with minor injuries and the exercise was immediately called off after the mishap.[33]
See also
editReferences
editExternal links
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Media related to Biju Patnaik International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
