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International airport in Siliguri, West Bengal, India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bagdogra Airport (IATA: IXB, ICAO: VEBD) is a customs airport serving the city of Siliguri in West Bengal, India. It is located in Bagdogra, 12 km (7.5 mi) south-west from the city centre.[4] It is operated as a civil enclave at Bagdogra Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force. It is the gateway to the hill stations of Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and other parts of North Bengal region. Siliguri, being a major transport and economic hub, the airport sees thousands of travellers and tourists annually. The Government of India conferred limited international airport status to the airport in 2002 with limited international operations to Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi and Paro. This is the second busiest airport in West Bengal.
![]() | Parts of this article (those related to Air Force Station) need to be updated. (January 2024) |
Bagdogra Airport | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Military/Public | ||||||||||
Owner | Indian Air Force | ||||||||||
Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
Serves | Siliguri | ||||||||||
Location | Bagdogra, Siliguri, West Bengal, India | ||||||||||
Hub for | |||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 126 m / 412 ft | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 26°40′52″N 088°19′43″E | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024) | |||||||||||
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The airport experiences humid subtropical climate (Köppen Climate Classification code: Cwa) - hot humid summers and cool winters. There is significant precipitation in all seasons, but remains drier in winters.[5][6] 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 17th-busiest airport in India. It is one of the few airports in India with zero sales tax on aviation turbine fuel.[7]
The airbase is home to the IAF No. 20 Wing, as well to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Mig-21) FL fighter aircraft of the No. 8 Squadron and a Helicopter Unit.[8] Along with the airbase at Hasimara, Alipurduar district; it is responsible for combat air operations over a large area including Northern West Bengal, Sikkim and if needed, Bhutan.[9] The base caters to all military air traffic for the Indian Army's XXXIII Corps based nearby in Sukna.[10]
The Government of West Bengal had handed over 14.5 acres (5.9 ha) of land to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for developing infrastructure for night landing in 2010. AAI also expanded the apron at the same time, enabling the parking of 5 narrow body aircraft simultaneously.[5] The IAF, which maintains the ATC and runway, gave permission for night landings by civilian aircraft allowing flights past 6 pm in 2013.
For its growing traffic over the years, in 2022, From 11 to 25 April, the airport was shut down for 14 days to refurbish its sole runway.[11]
The new terminal building, which is scheduled to start its construction by Q2 2024,[12] will be completed by 2026 with 16 parking bays, 10 aerobridges and a parallel taxiway to the runway. It will have a floor area of 1 lakh sq.m. at a cost of ₹ 3,000 crore, and will be capable of handling 12.5 million passengers per year. The design work of the new terminal building was done by CP Kukreja Architects as the Architectural & Engineering Consultant. And the construction bid going to Kalpataru Projects International Ltd.[13] After the expansion of the airport, more international flights can land here, and will turn this customs airport into an international one.[14]
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