Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 5: Air India will start operating international flights from the Biju Patanaik International Airport July 10 onwards using a ‘Hub and Spokes’ system, said Air India’s station manager TR Ray.
Flights AI 877 and 874 will operate as AI 077 and 078 respectively, said TR Ray.
Airport director Sharad Kumar said the flights can each carry about 182 passengers.
However, passengers won’t have a direct flight to foreign destinations as they will have to change planes at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi or the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. Services like immigration, customs and quarantine would however be provided at the city airport itself, and passengers need not go through a fresh immigration process at either Mumbai or Delhi airports.
The Hub and Spokes system makes use of an integrated travelling system where passengers originating from smaller regions will have to make transits at a major hub where connecting flights to many other destinations are possible.
In the era of point-to-point travelling, passengers usually had to make land transport to smaller towns, whereas the hub and spoke systems increase possible cities passengers can enter into.
All concerned departments like customs and immigration, CISF, health and plant quarantine services have been ordered to prepare themselves keeping in view the beginning of the international operations from the airport.
Bhubaneswar airport is suitable for operation of Code ‘D’ aircraft of Boeing 767-400 type. The airport has been equipped with night operation facilities. Its runway 14/32 is 2,743m long and 45m wide and is equipped with navigational aids and other essential requirements for the operation of international flights, aviation experts said.
To attract international operators to Orissa, the state government has already waived the value-added tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF).
It is believed that launching the flights from the city to international destinations was done keeping in mind the Nabakalebara festival, which is expected to draw millions of tourists to Puri.