Bhubaneswar: Air India has suspended flight operations between the city and Bangkok till October.

A source in Air India said that the flight service has been withdrawn temporarily as they had to divert some of their flights for Haj pilgrims. The official said that the service would resume in October.

Airport authorities, however, said they had no idea when Air India's Bangkok flight services would resume again. Director of Biju Patnaik International Airport S.C. Hota confirmed that the carrier has suspended the services from Tuesday.

"The operation was suspended for operational reasons and we don't have any information on when it will resume," he said, while adding that the carrier has also suspended flight services between Bhubaneswar and Bangalore.

Though the Bhubaneswar airport got international tag on October 2013, the first direct international flight of Air Asia to Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur was launched on April last year.

The flight to Bangkok was essential for the state to connect with East Asian countries and it also proved beneficial for the Buddhist-circuit tourism.

The suspension of Bangkok flights has not gone well with tour operators who apprehend a loss of business.

"Most tourists used to plan their trip to Bangkok as it was not very costly. Besides, now Bhubaneswar is left with only one direct International flight , that is to Kuala Lumpur. So, tourists will be left with no option but to take international flights from neighbouring states, such as Bengal and Andhra Pradesh," said tour operator Madhusmita Swain.

The Bangkok flight service had started on December 10 last year. The flight was operating every Thursday and Sunday. The airline hadalso inducted a 162-seater new Airbus for the route.