"BBI Airport" redirects here. For the German airport formerly abbreviated/titled as BBI (Berlin Brandenburg International), see
Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
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 2023, 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 18,240 square metres (196,300 sq ft), 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.[5][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 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.[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
Biju Patnaik International Airport has two intersecting
runways, the primary runway 14/32 for all major operations, and the secondary runway 05/23 for
light aircraft operations.
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]
On 22 December 2007, while
Surya Kiran,
Indian Air Force's aerobatics demonstration team, was undergoing training exercise, one of its four
HAL HJT-16 Kiran jets, after refueling and takeoff, caught fire and crash landed on the runway of Biju Patnaik Airport. The pilot was safely rescued with minor injuries and the exercise was immediately called off after the mishap.[37]