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Biju Patnaik Airport
Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
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Named after Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha, famed aviator and freedom fighter, it is the 15th busiest airport in India and the 11th busiest among the airports maintained by the Airports Authority of India. It is the 19th busiest airport in India in terms of cargo traffic. In the fiscal year 2024-25, it handled over 4.8 million passengers and around 9.1 thousand metric tonnes of cargo.[1][3]
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History
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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, Terminals 1 and 2, for domestic and international passengers respectively.
In March 2013, the former Minister of Civil Aviation, Ajit Singh, inaugurated Terminal 1, which caters to domestic passengers, whereas Terminal 2 was then refurbished to handle international operations.[5] On 30 October 2013, the Government of India accorded international status to the airport 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 Covid-19.[9] In September 2013, the airport management took a significant step towards sustainability by launching a green energy initiative with the installation of a 100KW rooftop solar power plant.[10]
In June 2022, the addition of eight new apron bays increased the total number of bays to 24, making it the largest apron facility in Eastern India. This upgrade supports remote parking and night operations, and paved the way for Terminal 3 development.[11]
In May 2023, the airport opened a 4MW ground‑mounted solar power plant, making Biju Patnaik International Airport thee first fully solar-powered airport in India, operating entirely on renewable energy.[12] International operations resumed from Bhubaneswar in May 2023 after IndiGo started direct flights to Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore.[13][14]
In February 2024, a new link building was inaugurated to connect Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, allowing international passengers seamless access to passenger boarding bridges in the Terminal 1.[15]
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Terminals
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Biju Patnaik International Airport is a key civil aviation hub in Eastern India. It houses two active passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, along with a dedicated International Cargo Terminal to support freight operations.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1, inaugurated in March 2013, is a modern and efficient domestic gateway, originally built in 2013 with capacity for ~4 million annual passengers to cater the full spectrum of domestic passenger traffic for the state.[16][5][17]
Terminal 1, a two-storied building with a total area of 18,240 square metres (196,300 sq ft) constructed at an estimated cost of ₹ 1.45 billion by Lanco Infratech, consists of 4 aerobridges, 4 elevators, several escalators, 18 check-in counters, 3 arrival luggage conveyors, a spa, and multiple lounges.[5][18]
The terminal building is designed with green building standards, featuring rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment, and Odisha-inspired artwork and décor along internal walls, giving travelers cultural insight into the region. [19] The new terminal also has food kiosks, gift shops, bookstores, art galleries and handloom/handicraft kiosks.[20]
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 serves as the dedicated international terminal, playing a key role in the airport’s growing international connectivity and passenger capacity. Originally constructed in the mid-1960s to cater to domestic operations, Terminal 2 was refurbished and repurposed after Bhubaneswar was granted international status in October 2013. Since then, it has handled international passenger traffic and become a crucial link between Odisha and major global destinations.
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.[21]
A link building measuring 3,360 square metres (36,200 sq ft) link building connects Terminal 1 (domestic) with Terminal 2 (international). This skybridge was inaugurated in February 2024, significantly improving the movement of passengers and offering a seamless transfer experience between domestic and international flights. Constructed at an approximate cost of 872 million, the terminal also reflects Odisha’s architectural identity with subtle design cues and improved passenger handling mechanisms.[15]
International Cargo Terminal
Integrated Cargo Terminal at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI), Bhubaneswar, serves as a key facility for managing both domestic and international freight movement in Odisha. Managed by AAICLAS (AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Ltd), the terminal has a handling capacity of 26,490 metric tonnes, strengthening Bhubaneswar’s position as an emerging air logistics center in Eastern India.[22][23]
International cargo operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport originally began in 2017 but were discontinued following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension of direct flights between Bhubaneswar and key international destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok in 2019 further impacted these services.[24]
Since the relaunch of direct international cargo operations in January 2024, Biju Patnaik International Airport has developed the required infrastructure and regulatory clearances to support import and export activities directly with global destinations. At present, cargo flights connect Bhubaneswar with Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok, with additional routes in progress. A major milestone was achieved on 15 May 2024, when the airport handled its first international shipment of perishable goods from Bhubaneswar to Dubai.[25]
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Runways
The airport features a single primary runway, 14/32, used for all major flight operations. It is supported by two taxiways, one intersecting and one parallel. The intersecting taxiway primarily handles light aircraft movements, while the full-length parallel taxiway facilitates efficient operations for narrow-body aircraft.[26]
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.[27] 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.[28]
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Airlines and destinations
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Accidents and incidents
- On 22 December 2007, an aircraft of Surya Kiran, Indian Air Force's aerobatics demonstration team, crash-landed while undergoing training exercise. After refuelling and takeoff, one of its four HAL HJT-16 Kiran jets caught fire and crash landed on the runway of Biju Patnaik Airport. The pilot was rescued with minor injuries and the exercise was immediately called off after the mishap.[40]
See also
References
External links
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