Bhubaneswar airport now International
The Union cabinet on Wednesday accorded international status to the Bhubaneswar Biju Patnaik airport. It was a long standing demand of the Odisha government that international flights be started from the airport to help boost the tourism potential of the state.
The release added, the Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar belongs to Airport Authority of India (AAI) and is suitable for operation of Code ‘D’ aircraft of type Boeing 767-400. The airport is also equipped with facilities for night operations, with runway 2,743 metres and apron to park six aircraft and navigational aids, it added.
Talking to reporters Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “This has been a longstanding demand of our state government that Biju Patnaik Airport gets international status. I have been informed that this has been cleared today.”
“The cabinet decision according international status to the airport came at the right time. We have almost completed the modification work at the old domestic terminal. Now we hope international fliers will approach us to start operations,” said airport director Sharad Kumar.
Three international fliers, Silk Air (Singapore), Fly Dubai (Dubai) and Indigo (Bangkok), have already evinced interest to start operations. “On a rough estimate, at least 180 passengers every day will fly to Bangkok and 150 passengers each to Dubai and Singapore from Bhubaneswar. These will be direct flights,” said a senior AAI official.
The airport has six check-in-counters, custom counters and immigration counters were being provided. The facilities of customs, immigration, health services and animal and plant quarantine at the airport have also been completed.
