In a bid to restore and expand air connectivity, the Odisha government is exploring plans to introduce flights to Tirupati, Surat, Bhopal, and Shirdi from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) by partnering with a regional airlin According to The Times of India report, the move comes at a time when flight services to 11 destinations, including two international routes, have been suspended, significantly affecting passenger traffic. Officials said a smaller aircraft, likely with a seating capacity of around 70, is being considered for these new routes.“A regional carrier is under consideration, and discussions are underway. An agreement may be finalised soon with certain operational conditions. The frequency of flights is yet to be decided,” a senior official associated with civil aviation said Sources indicated that Star Air could be roped in to operate these services.Among the proposed routes, Bhopal is expected to strengthen connectivity with central India, despite an existing daily flight to Raipur. Tirupati and Shirdi, both major religious destinations, are also being prioritised to cater to pilgrim traffic. Currently, many passengers travel to Tirupati via Hyderabad, which has direct connectivity from Bhubaneswar.At present, Bangkok remains the only international destination connected to Bhubaneswar, after flights to Dubai and Singapore were suspended. On the domestic front, services to Indore, Dehradun, Jaipur, Lucknow, Goa, Mopa, Port Blair, Kochi, and Hindon have also been discontinued. Previously, the airport had direct links to around 30 destinations. The suspension of multiple routes is expected to reduce daily passenger traffic by 1,200 to 1,500. While the introduction of new routes may partially offset the decline, officials estimate a net shortfall of 700 to 800 passengers per day.BPIA had recorded strong growth in recent months, crossing the 50 lakh annual passenger mark in November, with average monthly footfall exceeding 4 lakh.
Odisha Plans New Flights from Bhubaneswar to Tirupati, Surat, Bhopal and Shirdi to Boost Connectivity
