Bhubaneswar's International Flight Operations Face Turbulence Despite Government Support
Over the past three years, the Odisha state government has invested crores of rupees in viability gap funding (VGF) to sustain international flight operations from Bhubaneswar. However, despite this substantial financial assistance and consistent passenger demand, the city's airport continues to struggle with maintaining flights to Gulf countries, raising serious questions about the sustainability of these air connections.
Dubai Flight Faces Imminent Suspension Despite Strong Performance
The situation has reached a critical point with the potential suspension of the Dubai flight service. Early in January, the Abu Dhabi flight was terminated just six months after its launch, and now IndiGo's website shows no ticket booking availability for Dubai flights from Biju Patnaik International Airport beyond March 31st. This development has created significant apprehension among regular flyers who depend on this crucial international connection.
What makes this potential suspension particularly puzzling is the flight's strong operational performance. Official data reveals that the Dubai service consistently operates at near-full capacity, with maximum vacancy rates hovering around just 9% since operations began. This represents the lowest vacancy rate among Bhubaneswar's three international destinations, which also include Singapore and Bangkok.
Contrasting Performance Across International Routes
The performance disparity between different international routes from Bhubaneswar is striking:
- Dubai flight: Consistently operates with approximately 91% occupancy, the strongest performer among international routes
- Bangkok flight: Maintains healthy occupancy with vacancy rates between 15% to 19%
- Singapore flight: Struggles with the poorest passenger load, experiencing vacancy rates around 40%
This performance data raises important questions about why the most successful route might face suspension while less successful routes continue operations.
Government and Industry Perspectives on the Crisis
A government official familiar with the situation offered potential explanations for IndiGo's apparent withdrawal plans. "IndiGo's Dubai flight has certainly been running well since operations began," the official noted. "There could be other factors influencing their decision. After recent industry disruptions, the Centre implemented stricter regulations requiring airlines to downsize their aircraft fleets. In such circumstances, airlines might prioritize withdrawing services from less viable locations to deploy aircraft elsewhere."
Government sources indicate that authorities remain in active discussions with IndiGo to find solutions for continuing operations. "If viability gap funding presents an issue, we will engage in detailed discussions with the airline to explore all possible options," added the official, highlighting the government's commitment to preserving these international connections.
Economic and Strategic Importance of Dubai Connection
The Dubai flight, which began operations on May 15, 2023, holds significant strategic importance for Bhubaneswar and the broader Odisha region. Operating three times weekly, this service has generated substantial enthusiasm across multiple sectors:
- Business communities benefit from direct access to Middle Eastern markets
- Frequent fliers appreciate the convenience of direct connections
- Hoteliers and tour operators gain from increased international tourism
- Students traveling abroad for education find the route invaluable
Beyond these immediate benefits, the Dubai service provides a crucial gateway to Europe, North America, and Canada through connecting flights, making it an essential component of the region's international connectivity.
Pricing and Operational Timeline
The financial aspect reveals interesting patterns in passenger behavior. A round trip to Dubai costs approximately Rs 30,000, while similar journeys to Singapore and Bangkok are priced around Rs 20,000. Despite the higher cost, the Dubai flight maintains superior occupancy rates, suggesting strong underlying demand that transcends price considerations.
The operational timeline shows coordinated expansion followed by concerning contractions:
- Dubai flight launched: May 15, 2023
- Bangkok and Singapore flights launched: June 3, 2023
- Abu Dhabi flight launched: June 12, 2023 (terminated January 2024)
- Dubai flight potentially ending: After March 31, 2024
Airport Sources Highlight Singapore Route as Primary Concern
Airport insiders present a contrasting perspective on which routes truly require support. "If any destination requires hand-holding through viability gap funding, it should be Singapore," revealed a BPIA source. "Considering the actual footfall on Singapore flights, support for empty seats is understandable. But for Dubai, with its consistently strong performance, there should not be any substantial issues involving VGF requirements."
Despite repeated attempts to clarify the situation, IndiGo has declined to comment on these developments, leaving passengers and stakeholders uncertain about the future of Bhubaneswar's international air connectivity.
