Odisha Forum

The Bhubaneswar airport expansion project had kick started few years ago when I was there. Now it is almost stopped. Let alone converting it to an International Airport; we still dont have direct flights from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar.

There maynot be enough international passengers for the BBSR airport but what about the hundreds of us who out-book the AC tickets in the trains? Doesn't it satisfy the authority that there is demand? Will they test-run a daily flight from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar and see the response?

Air-fare(minimum) from Bangalore to kolkata (what we are using now) comes around Rs. 4000/- while that to Bhubaneswar (via Chennai or Hyderabad) costs more than Rs. 8000/- ! Where is the logic? For years, the authority has kept on mentioning "poor passenger strength". Will they verify it now?

All Oriyas outside Orissa pls come forward. Let's fight for our motherland. Your valuable suggestions for action are most welcome.

Just got this forwarded mail:

> It's with great pleasure we would like to inform that Indian
> Airlines is starting a direct flight between Bangalore and
> Bhubaneswar from 29th October 2006. The flights IC 7541/42 would be
> a daily flight via Chennai. The journey won't involve any change of
> aircraft and would involve a ground halt time at Chennai of 45
> minutes only. The start time from Bangalore is 8:30 am and it would
> reach BBSR at 11:55. In the return path, starting time is 15:55 and
> arrival is at 19:15. The fare is very economical and starts at Rs
> 4190/- only (all inclusive). Please book your flights conveniently
> at phone no 1407 with your master and visa credit cards and make
> this flight a success story.

This also contained a website link that does not have any news regarding this.

Dont know how true this is.

Just checked.Its true.
IC 7541 is the flight no.Just check Indian Airlines site.
See the complete schedule.

The flights are starting but I searched the fares and bit disappointed. Economy class is approx 14000/- and the none of the lowest fare (approx 5000/-) tickets till december are available. These fares are inclusive of taxes. It's really very difficult to get a ticket in IA. And may be the lowest fare option is just for Advert's sake!

Even if the above is true, It's never possible for IA to provide air travel from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar at as low as 4500 rupees. Maybe the private players like AirDeccan or Spicejet can do the job. I believe they wil;l also come forward after monitoring the IA initiative.

Air Deccan is launching its airbus A320 (180 seater) in service from Delhi to Bhubaneswar and Raipur. They aanounced it on a press conference on 26th Oct 2006.

They are quoted to be saying,"We are talking to the MP government for tourist promotional flights and we are keen on doing the same in Orissa".
And also, "The airline had doubled its fleet in three years and aims at not only becoming the biggest but the best operator in the country one day. It is now focusing on timings and reduction of number of cancellations of flights as well as increasing its fleet strength and destinations."

Air Deccan has been opeating flights between Bhubaneswar and Kolkata and this addition will definitely be of immense help to Oriyas out side Orissa.

I think this page should be in the travel guide rather than over here.

It is real nice to hear about these initiatives. I am eagerly waiting for the response to these flights. Hope, Orissa will never look back in this aspect.

First it was Indian Airlines, Air Deccan and now Kingfisher. Orissa skies seem to open up.
Within a week, Kingfisher Airlines will introduce flight services on the Delhi-Bhubaneswar-Hyderabad route, its CEO Vijay Mallya announced this in New Delhi in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday. Naveen Patnaik was the chief guest at TiECON 2006 and Mallya was an invitee.

Welcome Orissa!

Extracted the following data from the Indian Airlines website. (Online booking section). The cheapest tickets have been booked all till end of December 06 for the onward journey from Bangalore but you can find them for the return atleast.

• Flight:IC7541
  Origin:Bangalore
  Destination:Bhubaneswar
  Class:T
  Depatrure Date:3/dec/2006
  Departure time:0830
  Arrival time:1155
  Status:OK
  
  No. of passengers:1 adult(s)
  Per person INR:7160
  Surcharge per person INR:750
  Tax per person INR:225
  Total INR:8135
• 29/nov/2006
  Per person INR:6990
  Total INR:7935
• 30/nov/2006
  Origin:Bhubaneswar
  Destination:Bangalore
  Per person INR:3215
  Total INR:4190

(The surcharge and tax are same for all tickets.)
You can also find the data for your proposed date of journey at their website.

Hi all,
The Indian Airlines flight ticket prices vary a lot. I searched and found tickets ranging from 3000/- to 8000/- for one way journey on specific dates. Finally zeroed on round trip at 6400/-(oneway 3200) and bought it online.

Hope this might help you people.