Fliers at city airport squat on the floor, staircase amid seat crunch

Bhubaneswar: Fliers squatting on the floor in the absence of chairs while some using the staircase to sit have added to the woes of Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) after videos surfaced on social media showing passengers facing inconvenience, prompting airport authorities to put out an apology.NG Reddy, a flier, posted a video on X showing passengers using every available space to rest their tired legs, including even the children’s play area, due to an acute shortage of seating arrangements inside the terminal.In the video, the flier is seen saying, “Airports Authority of India, please take note of the situation at Bhubaneswar Airport. There is a serious shortage of seating, forcing passengers to sit on the floor and staircases, while many others are left standing throughout the terminal.”Reddy further stated that a few chairs were placed in limited areas, but they were clearly insufficient. “The ground floor conditions are reportedly even worse. With airlines and the airport charging high prices, people deserve better than this. Immediate improvement is needed,” he added.As the video sparked criticism over poor passenger amenities at the airport, BPIA director Prasanna Pradhan said the situation got exacerbated as flights got delayed due to dense fog.“We regret the inconvenience and thank passengers for their patience. The situation is under control with additional seating, passenger assistance, and coordinated efforts by airport and airline teams,” Pradhan said.The airport director said it was a temporary phenomenon. “This type of situation emerges when flights get delayed for different reasons, including dense fog,” Pradhan added.Niraj Kumar, a frequent flyer and a professor at a private university, said many passengers did not get chairs to sit on while waiting to board their respective flights. “If the flights were on schedule, such chaos would not have happened,” Kumar said.However, he added that seats are limited at the airport. “The number of flights have increased and flights are running to capacity. If the flights get delayed, passengers are forced to wait and the problem of getting a seat escalates,” he added.Last month too some people had expressed displeasure over the lack of seating arrangements at the airport.