Bagdogra Airport Explained

Bagdogra Airport
Iata:IXB
Icao:VEBD
Pushpin Map:India West Bengal#India
Pushpin Label:IXB
Type:Military/Public
Owner:Indian Air Force
Operator:Airports Authority of India
City-Served:Siliguri
Location:Bagdogra, Siliguri, West Bengal, India
Metric-Elev:yes
Elevation-F:412
Elevation-M:126
Metric-Rwy:yes
R1-Number:18/36
R1-Length-F:9,035
R1-Length-M:2,754
R1-Surface:Concrete/Asphalt
Stat-Year:April 2023 - March 2024
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:3,118,368 (22%)
Stat2-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat2-Data:20,838 (16.2%)
Stat3-Header:Cargo tonnage
Stat3-Data:8,445 (6.1%)
Footnotes:Source: AAI[1] [2] [3]

Bagdogra Airport is a customs airport serving the city of Siliguri in West Bengal, India. It is located in Bagdogra, south-west from the city centre.[4] It is operated as a civil enclave at Bagdogra Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force. It is the gateway to the hill stations of Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and other parts of North Bengal region. Siliguri, being a major transport and economic hub, the airport sees thousands of travellers and tourists annually. The Government of India conferred limited international airport status to the airport in 2002 with limited international operations to Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi and Paro. This is the second busiest airport in West Bengal.

The airport experiences humid subtropical climate (Köppen Climate Classification code: Cwa) - hot humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation in all seasons, but remains drier in winters.[5] Air traffic at Bagdogra crossed 1 million for the first time, growing at 43.6% percent in 2014–15. In 2019–20, the airport served 3.2 million passengers, which was an increase of 11.2% from the previous year, making it the 17th-busiest airport in India. It is one of the few airports in India with zero sales tax on aviation turbine fuel.[6]

Air Force Station

The airbase is home to the IAF No. 20 Wing, as well to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Mig-21) FL fighter aircraft of the No. 8 Squadron and a Helicopter Unit.[7] Along with the airbase at Hasimara, Alipurduar district; it is responsible for combat air operations over a large area including Northern West Bengal, Sikkim and if needed, Bhutan.[8] The base caters to all military air traffic for the Indian Army's XXXIII Corps based nearby in Sukna.[9]

Expansion

The Government of West Bengal had handed over 14.5acres of land to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for developing infrastructure for night landing in 2010. AAI also expanded the apron at the same time, enabling the parking of 5 narrow body aircraft simultaneously.[10] The IAF, which maintains the ATC and runway, gave permission for night landings by civilian aircraft allowing flights past 6 pm in 2013.

For its growing traffic over the years, in 2022, From 11 to 25 April, the airport was shut down for 14 days to refurbish its sole runway.[11]

The new terminal building, which is scheduled to start its construction by Q2 2024,[12] will be completed by 2026 with 16 parking bays, 10 aerobridges and a parallel taxiway to the runway. It will have a floor area of 1 lakh sq.m. at a cost of ₹ 3,000 crore, and will be capable of handling 12.5 million passengers per year. The design work of the new terminal building was done by CP Kukreja Architects as the Architectural & Engineering Consultant. And the construction bid going to Kalpataru Projects International Ltd.[13] After the expansion of the airport, more international flights can land here, and will turn this customs airport into an international one.[14]

Accidents and incidents

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 22 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 22 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 22 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Airports Authority of India. 2 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222055616/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/bagdogra_generalinfo.jsp. 22 December 2015. dead.
  5. Web site: International status to Bagdogra airport hailed . The Times of India. 2 October 2002. 15 July 2014.
  6. News: Bagdogra backs CM flight path- Tax waiver fuels air traffic growth. https://web.archive.org/web/20150728095856/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150728/jsp/calcutta/story_34042.jsp#.Vbar1fmqqko. dead. 28 July 2015. The Telegraph (Calcutta). 27 July 2015.
  7. Web site: 20 Wing, Indian Air Force - Database. 22 October 2021. Bharat Rakshak. en-gb.
  8. News: 1 July 2017. Why Bhutan is special to India. en-IN. The Hindu. 22 October 2021. 0971-751X.
  9. Web site: Indiablooms. Air Force Station Bagdogra celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management. 22 October 2021. Indiablooms.com. en.
  10. Web site: Night-landing facility at Bagdogra soon . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109094533/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-16/kolkata/28143485_1_night-landing-landing-facility-bagdogra . dead . 9 November 2013 . 16 January 2010. . 16 January 2010.
  11. News: Niyogi . Subhro . 18 January 2022 . 14-day Closure Of Bagdogra Airport For Runway Repairs Kolkata News - Times of India . 17 April 2022 . The Times of India . en.
  12. Web site: 5 December 2023 . 4 Bidders for Siliguri Bagdogra Airport's New Terminal Contract . 6 January 2024 . The Metro Rail Guy . en-US.
  13. News: 11 Jan 2024 . Kalpataru Wins Siliguri Bagdogra Airport's New Terminal Contract . The Metro Rail Guy.
  14. Web site: Bagdogra airport set for expansion. 18 December 2021. www.telegraphindia.com. en.
  15. Web site: 23 May 2008. MiG 21 crashes in Bengal, pilot safe. live. 13 September 2021. Hindustan Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912164844/https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/mig-21-crashes-in-bengal-pilot-safe/story-sDa1kZZITWR8EKQca0yYHN.html . 12 September 2021 .
  16. Web site: 6 June 2013. Flight skids off taxiway - Air India plane stuck at bagdogra for 7 hrs. live. 12 September 2021. The Telegraph. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912170252/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/flight-skids-off-taxiway-air-india-plane-stuck-at-bagdogra-for-7-hrs/cid/285507 . 12 September 2021 .
  17. Web site: 11 July 2014. Mishap avoided at Bagdogra airport as Indigo and Air India flight avoid collision. live. 13 September 2021. News18 India. https://web.archive.org/web/20210913064216/https://www.news18.com/news/india/airport-mishap-701170.html . 13 September 2021 .
  18. Web site: 11 July 2019. DGCA suspends two AirAsia India pilots for violation. live. 13 September 2021. The Economic Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20191118202948/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/dgca-suspends-two-airasia-india-pilots-for-violations/articleshow/70179028.cms . 18 November 2019 .
  19. Web site: 16 December 2019. IndiGo A320neo flight diverted to Bagdogra due to engine glitch. live. 13 September 2021. Mint. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216235836/https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/indigo-a320neo-flight-diverted-to-bagdogra-due-to-engine-glitch-11576496883242.html . 16 December 2019 .

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