Biju Patnaik Airport Explained

Biju Patnaik Airport
Iata:BBI
Icao:VEBS
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:Airports Authority of India
City-Served:Bhubaneswar
Location:Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Hub:IndiaOne Air
Metric-Elev:yes
Elevation-M:42
Elevation-F:138
Coordinates:20.2444°N 85.8178°W
Pushpin Map:India Odisha#India
Pushpin Label:BBI
Website:Biju Patnaik International Airport
Metric-Rwy:Y
R1-Number:05/23
R1-Length-M:1,379
R1-Length-F:4,525
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:14/32
R2-Length-M:2743
R2-Length-F:9000
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:April 2023 – March 2024
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:4,600,615 (26.9%)
Stat3-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat3-Data:35,368 (15%)
Stat4-Header:Cargo tonnage
Stat4-Data:9,887 (0.7%)
Footnotes:Source: AAI[1] [2] [3]
Mapframe:Yes
Mapframe-Zoom:10
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Odisha

Biju Patnaik Airport is an international airport serving Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, India. It is situated around south-west of Bhubaneswar Railway Station and from the city center.[4]

Named after Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha and 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. It is the 18th busiest airport in India in terms of cargo traffic. In the fiscal year 2023-24, it handled over 4.6 million passengers and over 9.8 thousand metric tonnes of cargo.[1] [3]

History

The 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.

In March 2013, the former Minister of Civil Aviation, Ajit Singh, inaugurated the Terminal 1, 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] In 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.[12] In May 2024, AirAsia resumed international operations from the airport with flights to Kuala Lumpur.[13]

Infrastructure

Biju 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.

Terminals

Terminal 1

Inaugurated 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 18240sqm, 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.[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

Terminal 2 handles international operations. It was built in the mid-1960s to cater domestic flights. The terminal being built over an area of 6264sqm, consists of 6 check-in counters, 10 immigration counters, 4 customs counters, numerous amenities and multiple seating areas.[20] Constructed with a budget of 872 million, a link building connects Terminal 1 and 2, majorly used for domestic and international arrivals.[21]

International Cargo Terminal

With an annual cargo handling capacity of 26,490 metric tonnes, the Biju Patnaik International Airport is one of the major Air Cargo hubs in Eastern India.[22] Air cargo operations at the airport is managed by Airports Authority of India's Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited, i.e. the AAICLAS.[23]

Runways

The airport has two intersecting runways, the primary runway 14/32 for all major operations, and the secondary runway 05/23 for light aircraft operations.

Runways at BPI Airport!Runway Number!Length!Width!Approach Lights/ILS
14/322743m (8,999feet)45m (148feet)CAT-I / CAT-II
05/231379m (4,524feet)45m (148feet)CAT-I / CAT-II

Coast Guard Air Enclave

Indian Coast Guard's Air Enclave along with its 743 Dornier Squadron was commissioned by former Vice-Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard at the Biju Patnaik International Airport on 15 December 2014.[24] 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.[25]

Incidents

See also

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netaji_Subhas_Chandra_Bose_International_Airport

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 20 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 20 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 20 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Bhubaneswar Airport. Airport Economic Regulatory Authority. 3 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010802/http://aera.gov.in/content/airports/bhubaneswar-airport.php. 29 January 2019. live.
  5. News: New terminal at Bhubaneswar airport starts operations. 17 March 2013. Business Standard. 14 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231810/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/new-terminal-at-bhubaneswar-airport-starts-operations-113031400359_1.html. 30 December 2013. live.
  6. News: Centre accords international tag to Bhubaneswar airport. The Times of India. 31 October 2013. 30 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000543/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-31/bhubaneswar/43558773_1_new-domestic-terminal-bhubaneswar-airport-international-terminal. 31 December 2013. dead.
  7. Web site: Air India to commence Bhubaneswar to Bangkok direct flights from December 10. Indian Express. 5 December 2017.
  8. Web site: AirAsia starts Operations on Kuala Lumpur-Bhubaneswar Route. www.ntvprofit.com. 27 April 2017.
  9. Web site: Air India Suspends Bhubaneswar to Bangkok Flight Service. Odishatv.in. 17 July 2018.
  10. Web site: INDIGO ADDS BHUBANESWAR – DUBAI FROM MAY 2023. Aeroroutes. 3 April 2023.
  11. Web site: IndiGo strengthens connectivity to Southeast Asia, adds flights connecting Singapore, Bangkok. Zee Business. 3 May 2023 . 3 May 2023.
  12. News: Raj, Amulya. Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport Becomes Self-Sustainable, Installs 4 MP Solar Power Plant. Zee News. 7 May 2023. 9 May 2023. en.
  13. Web site: AirAsia resumes Kuala Lumpur - Bhubaneswar service in 2Q24. AeroRoutes. 14 March 2024.
  14. News: Lanco Infratech bags Rs 92 cr order from AAI. 30 December 2013. Business Standard. 4 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235519/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/lanco-infratech-bags-rs-92-cr-order-from-aai-110060400202_1.html. 30 December 2013. live.
  15. News: Singha. Minati. International airport to take off by June. 5 March 2013. Times of India. 5 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160924202711/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/International-airport-to-take-off-by-June/articleshow/18804322.cms. 24 September 2016. live.
  16. News: March date for swanky airport. 17 March 2013. The Telegraph. 8 August 2011. Calcutta, India. Bibhuti. Barik. https://web.archive.org/web/20130801062503/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111208/jsp/odisha/story_14853822.jsp#.UUXeKRxkMWU. 1 August 2013. dead.
  17. News: Barik. Bibhuti. Airport work speeds up – Capital set for take-off in style. 17 March 2013. The Telegraph. 24 June 2011. Calcutta, India. https://web.archive.org/web/20130801070511/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110624/jsp/orissa/story_14152627.jsp. 1 August 2013. dead.
  18. News: New terminal at Bhubaneswar airport thrown open. 17 March 2013. 6 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130308010939/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-06/bhubaneswar/37499050_1_bhubaneswar-airport-biju-patnaik-airport-wall-facade. 8 March 2013. The Times of India. dead.
  19. News: Ramanath V. Riyan. Plans to provide spa facilities at airport. 18 March 2013. 5 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235141/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-05/bhubaneswar/36763902_1_duty-free-shops-jewellery-shop-spa. 30 December 2013. The Times of India. dead.
  20. News: Bhubaneswar - Technical Information. 25 May 2017. Airports Authority of India. 22 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170607162700/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/bhubaneshwar_technicalinfo.jsp. 7 June 2017. dead.
  21. Web site: Bhubaneswar airport to get new terminal soon. 23 February 2019. 23 February 2019.
  22. Web site: 19 December 2012. Improvement in Air Cargo Capacity. Parliament of India. 19 December 2022.
  23. Web site: AAICLAS: Facilities. aaiclas.aero. 26 June 2024.
  24. News: Coast Guard's new air enclave inaugurated in Bhubaneswar. 12 October 2016. 15 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20161013074507/http://www.oneindia.com/india/coast-guards-new-air-enclave-inaugurated-in-bhubaneswar-1592811.html. 13 October 2016. live.
  25. News: Commissioning of Coast Guard Air Enclave Bhubaneswar & 743 Squadron (CG) . 12 October 2016. 15 December 2014.
  26. News: IAF aircraft crash landed at Bhubaneswar airport . 2 December 2023 . One India . 22 December 2007.