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Passenger occupancy on several domestic routes from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar has fallen below 40 percent during the monsoon months, prompting airlines to suspend or curtail services.
Airport director Prasanna Pradhan confirmed that owing to this, the Kochi flight has been withdrawn due to low bookings, though services are expected to resume with the onset of the festive season, reported The Times of India.
Low Footfall On Multiple Routes
According to the reports, flights to Kochi, Port Blair, Indore, and Dehradun have seen consistently poor bookings since the beginning of the monsoon. In some cases, fewer than four out of ten seats are being filled.
While Bhubaneswar is currently connected to 30 domestic destinations, flights to Durgapur, Indore, and Port Blair operate only four days a week, unlike high-demand sectors such as Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai, where services run daily.
Concerns Over International Connectivity
Adding to concerns, reports suggest IndiGo may discontinue the only direct Bhubaneswar–Dubai service from October 24. The thrice-weekly flight, launched in May 2023 amid much fanfare, had been welcomed by the Odia diaspora and the business community as a vital link for trade, investment, and tourism.
If withdrawn, passengers will have to rely on connecting options, including the recently launched Bhubaneswar–Abu Dhabi route. The potential suspension has come as a setback for frequent flyers who depended on the Dubai service as a direct gateway to the Middle East.
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Expansion Plans Underway Despite Dip
Even as airlines adjust services to match demand, the Centre has cleared plans for a third terminal (T-3) at BPIA to address long-term growth.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu recently announced that the new terminal will showcase Odisha’s culture and heritage in its design while boosting passenger capacity. Officials also confirmed that some of Odisha’s 20 existing airstrips may be developed into full-fledged airports in coordination with the state government.
