Airport of Punjab, India
Bathinda Airport (IATA: BUP, ICAO: VIBT) is a domestic airport and an Indian Air Force base serving the city of Bathinda and the Malwa region in Punjab, India. It is located 26 kilometres (16 mi) north-west of the city in Bhisiana and near the village of Virk Kalan. The airport operates commercial flights under the Airports Authority of India as a civil enclave of the Bhisiana Air Force Station. Alliance Air was the only commercial airline that operated flights from the airport to Delhi from December 2016 till 2020. Since then, the airport remained inactive, until when in September 2023, FlyBig, restarted flight operations by starting flights to Ghaziabad and later to Dehradun from 18 September 2023.[2][3]
History
The Bhisiana Air Force Base was built in 1975. When it gained an important identity as one of the most startegic air force bases in India in 1980, the Indian Air Force allowed to operate private, charter and government flights to and from the air force base.[1] To facilitate socio-economic development in the Malwa region and improve connectivity, the Government of India selected the air force base to be developed as a commercial airport along with continuing military operations, under the UDAN Scheme. This proposal was granted by the Indian Air Force, and hence, the passenger terminal was built and inaugurated by the former Minister of Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, on 11 December 2016.[4] Flights were started by Alliance Air the same day to Delhi.[5][6] It was the only route until 2020, when the airline indefinitely suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a break of over three years, the regional carrier, FlyBig, restarted flight operations from the airport to Ghaziabad and at a future date to Dehradun, on 18 September 2023.[2][3]
Infrastructure
The airport has a 1,200-square-metre (13,000 sq ft) terminal for commercial flights built at a cost of ₹25 crore (US$3.1 million). It has a capacity for 100 passengers with a waiting area that can seat 30 people. It contains two check-in counters and a VIP lounge.[5][4] It has a runway numbered 13/31, measuring 2,804 metres (9,199 ft) in length.[7] The apron can park two aircraft similar to the ATR 72-600 aircraft in size.[4]
Bhisiana Air Force Station
The airport functions as a civil enclave at the Bhisiana Air Force Station. Built in 1975, it is the 34th Wing of the No. 108 Squadron IAF. Its status was upgraded to one of the most strategically important air force stations as well as to a wing on 18 February 1980. The Indian Air Force provides air traffic control and emergency services for the airport.[3][1]
Access
The airport is located at Bhisiana near the village of Virk Kalan, 26 kilometres (16 mi) north-west of Bathinda.[5] The nearest bus station is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the airport. There are direct bus services operated by the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) to the city. By road, the nearest highway through which it is connected to the city is NH-7. By rail, the nearest railway station is Bulluana railway station at Ballauna, situated 9 km (5.6 mi) south from the airport.[9][10]
