Sushant Tripathy, 53, a technical expert with Samsung Heavy Industries at Geoje-Si island in South Korea, along with his wife Sabita, 45, took the first international morning flight to the city from New Delhi on Saturday. They were among 21 passengers from foreign destinations on the flight carrying 122. Sushant shares his experience

Being a native from Banpur in Khurda district, I am happy that Biju Patnaik International Airport is now able to issue boarding passes for foreign destinations and vice-versa. For me, it is an international experience available at our doorstep.

However, as our tickets had been booked earlier and we had no knowledge regarding this development, we had to come through immigration counter at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

Here at the city airport, the officials carried out a brief check of our papers as we were coming from a foreign destination. As the staff members were using the local language, it was a homely feel.

Getting our baggage was hassle free. We got it in 20 minutes. On our return journey, I will definitely have the boarding passes issued for Incheon airport in Seoul from here.

I also feel that the availability of this facility at Biju Patnaik International Airport should be publicised widely, so that the non-resident Odias can avail themselves of the opportunity by getting direct boarding passes for the city airport. Without publicity, the people from nearby states such as Chhattisgarh cannot avail themselves of this facility in Bhubaneswar.

My son and daughter are prosecuting their higher studies in South Korea. Now, we will be less worried during their visits with the immigration and customs facilities having been started working here.