Flights to northern cities not affected by conflict

Time of India

10-05-2025

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Bhubaneswar: Flight services from Bhubaneswar to the northern region (Delhi, Lucknow, Dehradun and Jaipur) were not affected during the past four days of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, with seats being booked almost to capacity.
Even as a barrage of drone-borne missiles continued to hit places in Rajasthan, Jammu and the northern airspace became increasingly vulnerable, there were no reports of a drop in passenger footfall, authorities at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here said. "Some people, who planned to fly to Jammu or deep into the northern airspace, may have postponed their trip, but there was hardly any cancellation of tickets on those routes," said a BPIA officer.While Lucknow and Dehradun flights operate four days a week, Jaipur flights run daily. These routes have one flight each, but Delhi has nine flights a day, and they run daily. The Bhubaneswar-Ghaziabad flight was cancelled indefinitely as Hindon airport, under the Indian Air Force (AF), decided to operate exclusively for military logistics operations. "But now, Air India Express may change its decision to suspend its Ghaziabad operation with improvement in the situation between India and Pakistan," an airport officer said.On Friday, the city airport recorded a footfall of 14,350 passengers for all domestic destinations. The footfall in international flights was also impressive. Till reports last came, Saturday's footfall was also close to that of Friday.Airport sources, however, said that until further notice, the airport will still be out of bounds for visitors. The secondary ladder point check (SLPC) will remain activated. The second layer of security check is carried out in emergency situations and on special occasions.Sources said the last time the airport activated SLPC was following a threat mail from Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Airport officials said that minutes before passengers board a flight, their bags will be scanned, and they may be frisked, which is not done usually. Normally, after the primary security check by CISF before proceeding to the departure lounge, no further checking is done.