Bagdogra Airport

2021-10-06T04:38:55Z

2402:3A80:1F69:94A2:48AB:805F:DEA9:7309:

{{short description|Airport near Siliguri, West Bengal, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Bagdogra International Airport
| image = Bagdogra International Airport.jpg
| image-width = 250
| IATA = IXB
| ICAO = VEBD
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal# India
| pushpin_label = '''IXB'''
| type = Civil Enclave
| owner = [[Indian Air Force]]
| operator = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| city-served = [[Siliguri]]
| location = [[Bagdogra]], [[Siliguri]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| metric-elev = yes
| elevation-f = 412
| elevation-m = 126
| coordinates = {{Coord|26|40|52|N|088|19|43|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| metric-rwy = yes
| r1-number = 18/36
| r1-length-f = 9,035
| r1-length-m = 2,754
| r1-surface = Concrete/[[Asphalt]]
| stat-year = April 2020 - March 2021
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 1,473,310 ({{decrease}}54.2%)
| stat2-header = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data = 10,784 ({{decrease}}53.6%)
| stat3-header = Cargo tonnage
| stat3-data = 6,024 ({{decrease}}19.8%)|
| footnotes = Source: [[Airport Authority of India|AAI]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure III - Passenger Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex3.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure II - Aircraft Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex2.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Annexure IV - Freight Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex4.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Bagdogra International Airport - during LGFC - Bhutan 2019 (24).jpg|thumb|Aircraft at the [[Bagdogra International Airport]]]]
'''Bagdogra International Airport''' {{airport codes|IXB|VEBD}} is an [[international airport]] located at the western part of the city [[Siliguri]], the city which the airport serves, at [[Bagdogra]] area in [[Siliguri]] in northern [[West Bengal]], India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/bagdogra_generalinfo.jsp |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222055616/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/bagdogra_generalinfo.jsp |archive-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
It is operated as a [[civil enclave]] at AFS Bagdogra of the [[Indian Air Force]]. It is also the gateway airport to the [[hill station]]s of [[Darjeeling]], [[Gangtok]], [[Kurseong]], [[Kalimpong]], [[Mirik]] and other parts of the [[North Bengal]] region and sees thousands of tourists annually. The airport is a major transport hub in the region. The central government of India conferred [[international airport]] status to the airport in 2002 with limited international operations. Bagdogra airport experiences humid sub-tropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa) - Hot humid summers and cooler winter. Significant precipitation in all seasons but drier in the winter.<ref name="TOI1"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/International-status-to-Bagdogra-airport-hailed/articleshow/24001049.cms |title = International status to Bagdogra airport hailed | work= The Times of India| date= 2 October 2002| access-date = 15 July 2014}}</ref> Air traffic at Bagdogra crossed 1 million for the first time growing at 43.6% percent in 2014–15. In 2019–20, the airport served 3.2 million passengers which was an increase of 11.2% from the previous year, making it the [[List of the busiest airports in India|17th-busiest airport in India]]. This is one of the few airports in India with zero sales tax on aviation turbine fuel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150728/jsp/calcutta/story_34042.jsp#.Vbar1fmqqko|title=Bagdogra backs CM flight path- Tax waiver fuels air traffic growth|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]]|access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>

==Air Force Station==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
The airbase is home to the IAF No. 20 Wing, as also to the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21]] (Mig-21) FL [[fighter aircraft]] of the No. 8 Squadron and a Helicopter Unit. Along with the airbase at [[Hasimara]], [[Alipurduar district]]; it is responsible for combat air operations over a large area including North Bengal, Sikkim, and if needed, [[Bhutan]]. The base caters to all military air traffic for the Indian Army's [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]] based nearby in Sukna.

==Expansion==
The state government had handed over {{convert|14.5|acre|ha}} of land to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for developing infrastructure for night landing in 2010. AAI also expanded the [[airport apron|apron]] at the same time, enabling the parking of 5 [[Narrow-body aircraft|narrow body aircraft]] simultaneously.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite web| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-16/kolkata/28143485_1_night-landing-landing-facility-bagdogra | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131109094533/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-16/kolkata/28143485_1_night-landing-landing-facility-bagdogra | url-status = dead | archive-date = 9 November 2013 |title = Night-landing facility at Bagdogra soon |date = 16 January 2010| work = [[The Times of India]] | access-date = 16 January 2010}}</ref> The IAF, which maintains the ATC and runway, gave permission for night landings by civilian aircraft allowing flights past 6 pm in 2013. The new terminal building will also be constructed at Bagdogra Airport by 2024 with 16 parking bays, 10 aerobridges and a taxi way. It will become a fully fledged airport after its expansion. After the expansion of Bagdogra Airport, more international flights can land here.

== Statistics ==
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=IXB}}

==Airlines and destinations==


{{Airport-dest-list|3rdcoltitle={{Abbr|Refs.|References}}
| {{nowrap|[[AirAsia India]]}}|
[[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]]|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/business/airasia-india-launches-new-daily-direct-flights-at-rs-2-999-only-routes-booking-details-here-1895403 |title=AirAsia India Launches New Daily Direct Flights From Bangalore To Bagdogra at Rs 2,999 Only. Booking Details Here |publisher=Ndtv.com |access-date=7 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-airasia-india-i5|title=Route Map of AirAsia India|website=FlightConnections.com}}</ref>

| [[Air India]] | [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]]|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-air-india-ai|title=Route Map of Air India|website=FlightConnections.com}}</ref>

|[[Go First (airline)|Go First]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Budget airline GoAir rebrands as Go First|url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/budget-airline-goair-rebrands-as-go-first/article34552775.ece}}</ref>| [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport|Guwahati]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]]|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-go-air-g8|title=Go Air Route Map and Destinations|website=FlightConnections.com}}</ref>

| [[IndiGo]] | [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport|Ahmedabad]], [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]],<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/information/new-flights.html|title=New Flights Information, Status & Schedule | IndiGo|website=www.goindigo.in}}</ref> [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport|Guwahati]], [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref name="auto"/>|<ref name="Indigo1">{{cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/information/flight-schedule.html|title=Flight Schedule for Domestic & International Flights |website=IndiGo |access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-indigo-airlines-6e|title=IndiGo Airlines Route Map and Destinations|website=FlightConnections.com}}</ref>

| [[SpiceJet]] | [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]], [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Jaipur International Airport|Jaipur]](Begins 31st Oct), [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]], [[Jay Prakash Narayan Airport|Patna]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Flight schedule|publisher=[[SpiceJet]]|url=https://www.spicejet.com/schedules.aspx|access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref>|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-spicejet-sg|title=Spicejet Route Map and Destinations|website=FlightConnections.com}}</ref>

| [[Vistara]] | [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Dibrugarh Airport|Dibrugarh]] |<ref name="Vistara-Dibrugarh">"[https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/vistara-expands-its-wings-to-dibrugarh-connects-this-assam-city-with-delhi-bagdogra/1502229/ Vistara expands its wings to Dibrugarh, connects this Assam city with Delhi, Bagdogra]." ''Financial Express''. Accessed 1 March 2019.</ref>
}}

== Accidents and Incidents ==

* 23 May 2008: A [[MiG-21]] of the [[Indian Air Force]] had to perform a [[belly landing]] due to a technical snag and a jammed landing gear. The aircraft hard landed on the runway causing it to catch fire. The pilot ejected safely.The aircraft was written off subsequently.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Times|first=Hindustan|date=May 23, 2008|title=MiG 21 crashes in Bengal, pilot safe|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/mig-21-crashes-in-bengal-pilot-safe/story-sDa1kZZITWR8EKQca0yYHN.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2021|website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

* 5 July 2013: AI879, an [[A320]] arriving from [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|New Delhi]] swerved off the taxiway while taxiing towards the apron after landing. No injuries were reported. The passengers were immediately de-boarded. The aircraft sustained minor damage and took about 7 hours to bring the stuck aircraft to the taxiiway. <ref>{{Cite web|last=India|first=Telegraph|date=6 June 2013|title=Flight skids off taxiway - Air India plane stuck at bagdogra for 7 hrs|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/flight-skids-off-taxiway-air-india-plane-stuck-at-bagdogra-for-7-hrs/cid/285507|url-status=live|access-date=12 September 2021|website=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref>

*11 July 2014: A mishap was avoided between [[IndiGo|Indigo]] flight 6E472 and [[Air India]] flight AI879. Air India flight 879, carrying 120 passengers, was descending and the [[IndiGo|Indigo]] flight 472 with 130 passengers on board was given clearance to climb the 30,000-feet height. As they came close to each other violating the 1000 metre separation, the pilots of the [[IndiGo|Indigo]] plane and the Air India aircraft, however, manoeuvred themselves to avoid a near-miss. Both aircraft received a [[Traffic collision avoidance system|Traffic Collision Avoidance System]] warning. Following the Resolution Advisory given by the TCAS the Indigo flight immediately descended and the Air India flight turned right. Once the Captains received "clear-of-conflict" message, they manoeuvred back to their filed flight plans. Both aircraft landed safely without any injuries.<ref>{{Cite web|first=News 18|date=July 11, 2014|title=Mishap avoided at Bagdogra airport as Indigo and Air India flight avoid collision|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/airport-mishap-701170.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2021|website=[[News18 India]]}}</ref>

* 15 February 2019: An [[AirAsia India|Air Asia India]] [[Airbus A320 family|A320]] scheduled for a flight from Bagdogra Airport to [[Kempegowda International Airport]] damaged its left wing sharklets while backtracking the runway. The two pilots were later suspended for 6 months by the [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|DGCA]] in view of violating laid down procedures.<ref>{{Cite web|first=The Economic Times|date=Jul 11, 2019|title=DGCA suspends two AirAsia India pilots for violation|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/dgca-suspends-two-airasia-india-pilots-for-violations/articleshow/70179028.cms|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

* 16 December 2019: An [[IndiGo]] [[A320neo]] bound for [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]] performed an emergency landing in view of engine related issues. The aircraft was using [[Pratt & Whitney PW1000G|Pratt & Whittney]] engines. Out of the two engines, one engine was not modified which caused the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|first=The Mint|date=16 Dec 2019|title=IndiGo A320neo flight diverted to Bagdogra due to engine glitch|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/indigo-a320neo-flight-diverted-to-bagdogra-due-to-engine-glitch-11576496883242.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2021|website=[[Mint (newspaper)]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/bagdogra Bagdogra Airport] at [[Airports Authority of India]] website.

{{Portalbar|India|Aviation}}
{{Airports in India}}{{West Bengal transit}}{{Darjeeling District}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Darjeeling district]]
[[Category:Transport in Jalpaiguri district]]
[[Category:Airports in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Transport in Siliguri]]
[[Category:Airports with year of establishment missing]]

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Bagdogra Airport