BPIA Bhubaneswar to Launch Direct International Flights in May

BPIA Bhubaneswar to Launch Direct International Flights in May

The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar is set to launch direct international flights to three popular destinations – Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok – from May of this year. The news was announced by BPIA Director, Prasanna Pradhan, in a press conference held on Tuesday.

According to the agreement signed between BPIA and the state government, IndiGo, the flight operator, will be responsible for operating the scheduled flights to the three international destinations. The renovation of the old terminal building is set to be completed by March to facilitate the operation of these international flights. Trial runs of international aircraft will be conducted before the launch in May.

The entire cost of the direct flight operations will be covered by the government, and in return, the government will keep the revenue generated from ticket sales. The plan to operate these flights was approved by the Odisha cabinet in December of last year. In November, the government had invited requests for quotations from airlines to select the airline to operate the direct international flights from Bhubaneswar.

The launch of these international flights is a major step forward for the Bhubaneswar airport, as currently, there is no direct flight service to any foreign destination. International travelers have to rely on Kolkata or Delhi for their travels.

In the past, Bhubaneswar has had a few international flights, such as the flights between Bhubaneswar and Kuala Lumpur, introduced by AirAsia in 2017, which were suspended just before the COVID pandemic, and the flights between Bhubaneswar and Bangkok which were discontinued in 2019 after a year of service. This new development is expected to boost the tourism industry in the region and provide a more convenient travel option for international travelers.