Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI), situated in Bhubaneswar, serves as a critical aviation foundation for East India’s flight system. Named after the former Chief Minister as well as freedom fighter Biju Patnaik, this air hub has developed from a regional facility into an essential international access point handling above 4.6 million passengers per annum.
Chronological Growth and Key Significance https://airport-bbi.com/
### Founding and Formative Years
Commissioned on 17 April 1962, the air terminal became Odisha’s inaugural civil air transport center. Its site – 3 km from the urban core of Bhubaneswar – provided convenient access.
### Crisis Management and Post-Pandemic Revival
The global health emergency temporarily halted BBI’s global aspirations, halting initial routes to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Nonetheless, May 2023 experienced a robust resurgence with IndiGo commencing flights to Dubai, Singapore, along with Bangkok.
Facilities and Technical Abilities
### Passenger Buildings
BBI’s dual-terminal system efficiently segregates domestic and international traffic:
– Terminal 1: Features 18 check-in counters
– T2: Offers six registration desks
### Runway and Air Traffic Management
The airport’s primary runway (RWY 14) extends 2.7 kilometers, equipped for handling wide-body aircraft.
## Economic Impact and Public Value
### Visitor Sector Development
Odisha’s visitor numbers doubled to 32 million in 2024, attributed to BBI’s improved network.
### Job Creation
Official statistics show 8.4K employment opportunities across terminal services, retail, and aviation management.