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Bhubaneswar, July 10: International operations commenced at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in the city from Friday with the departure of an Air India flight from Terminal II with 163 passengers, with 35 of them bound to foreign destinations such as New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Muscat, Dubai, Singapore and Tokyo.
The long-awaited international service was flagged off by Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram and petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Air India began its daily operations with flight AI-078 connecting Bhubaneswar via Delhi to Dubai and rest of the world.
“It is a great day as we are set to get connected with international countries. We are following the ‘hub and spoke’ model, which enables international fliers to complete their immigration procedures in the city itself.
We are happy to have 35 passengers for international destinations out of 163 passengers on today’s inaugural flight,” said Rohit Nandan, chief managing director of Air India.Describing the start of international flight operations from here as a historic development, Oram said it would give substantial boost to tourism industry as well as trade and commerce in the state.
Pradhan said immigration, customs and other clearances would be given to passengers travelling abroad and they would simply have to board another flight to Dubai after landing in Delhi. From Dubai, they can travel elsewhere.
Talks were also on with airlines like Indigo, SpiceJet and AirAsia for starting international flight operations from Bhubaneswar, Pradhan said.
“Air links with 101 foreign destinations from Bhubaneswar will be established very soon,” he said adding gradually direct flights to foreign countries could also be introduced with growth in number of passengers.
Pradhan thanked the ministry of civil aviation, Air India and Airports Authority of India for realising the dream of the people of Orissa.
Flight AI-078, a 182-seater Airbus A-321 with 12 executive class and 170 economy class seats, would leave Bhubaneswar at 2 pm and reach Delhi at 4.25 pm. The incoming flight AI-077, a 168-seater A-320 from Delhi would reach Bhubaneswar at 9 am after taking off at 7 am from Delhi.
In a bid to attract international fliers to the state, the Orissa government has already reduced VAT on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to zero from five per cent.
