Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 8: Expressing their willingness to commence commercial operations from the Biju Patnaik International Airport, authorities of Air Asia visited the airport Monday to inspect its facilities and infrastructure and later held discussions with Chief Secretary GC Pati and airport authorities in this regard.
Airport director Sharad Kumar said the meeting was fruitful, hinting at the possibility of Air Asia launching international flights from the city airport soon.
“The meeting with Air Asia representatives, tour and travel operators, and government authorities was very fruitful. The meeting deliberated upon the commercial viability and the need for international operations from the airport,” Kumar said.
The airline wants to use the airport for connecting to over 100 destinations, including some in Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.
The BPIA, which was accorded international status two years ago, is still struggling to get approval for operation of international flights.
The state government is willing to offer free night-patrolling and zero value-added tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) in order to attract international operators. It has also decided to extend support for setting up ticket counters, immigration and custom facilities within two weeks, provided DGCA approves international operations from the airport. Besides, the airport has all required infrastructure for international air operations and a newly-built Terminal-2 (T2) of the airport has been specially equipped to handle international traffic.
BPIA earlier had approached several international airlines including Thai Airways, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Air Asia, and Fly Singapore among others to start operations from Bhubaneswar.
All of these airlines, including Air India, SpiceJet and Indigo which operate international flights had participated in the meeting with Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati in New Delhi May 19. Sources said the state government is working hard to start international flight operations from this airport in view of the mega Nabakalebara festival of Lord Jangannath in Puri, which is expected to draw over five million visitors.
