CHANGE AT PATNA AIRPORT

CHANGE AT PATNA AIRPORT

28-MARCH-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------------A significant shift in air services has been witnessed at Patna Airport. For the first time, a direct flight service has been launched connecting Patna—the capital of Bihar—to Navi Mumbai. Furthermore, after a hiatus of nearly four years, aircraft will once again begin taking off from Patna Airport during the night hours.

A major expansion of air services has been observed at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna, the capital of Bihar. For the first time, a direct flight service has been introduced between Patna and Navi Mumbai. Additionally, following a gap of approximately four years, flight operations—including late-night and midnight departures—are set to resume at Patna Airport. The airport management has released its summer schedule, which will remain in effect from March 29 to October 24.

According to the new schedule, starting March 29, an IndiGo Airlines flight from Pune will arrive in Patna at 2:00 AM; after a brief layover of just 55 minutes, it will depart for Pune at 2:55 AM. Thus, late-night flight operations—which had been suspended for several years—will once again commence at Patna Airport.

Under the summer schedule, a total of 44 pairs of flights will operate to and from Patna, connecting it with various states. Of these, the highest number—13 pairs of flights—will operate between Patna and Delhi, underscoring this route as the busiest air corridor. Furthermore, the operation of four pairs of flights between Hyderabad and Patna has also been confirmed, which will further strengthen connectivity between South India and Bihar.

The most notable feature of this schedule is the newly introduced direct flight to Navi Mumbai. IndiGo Airlines Flight 2043 will arrive in Patna from Navi Mumbai at 2:15 PM and will depart from Patna for Navi Mumbai at 2:50 PM. The Navi Mumbai Airport in Maharashtra was inaugurated last year; with the establishment of a direct air link from Patna, residents of Bihar living in Mumbai, Thane, and the surrounding regions stand to benefit significantly. According to airport officials, under the summer schedule, 43 pairs of flights will operate normally between 7:00 AM and 10:30 PM. During this period, flight movements will continue from 7:35 AM until 11:25 PM. Conversely, during the approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes spanning from midnight until the early hours of the following morning, only a single pair of flights will be operational.

The fact that flight operations will be restricted to just one route during the night hours is expected to increase both the financial and operational pressures on the airport management. Nevertheless, the administration has taken this decision because the new terminal at Patna Airport—completed recently—is equipped with all the modern amenities required for 24-hour flight operations. Previously, these facilities were being utilized for only 16 to 17 hours a day.

The airport management believes that this initiative will encourage other airlines to launch flight services during the night as well. This will enhance the utility of Patna Airport and prove to be a significant step toward transforming it into a fully operational, 24-hour airport in the future. This new arrangement will not only provide passengers with a wider range of options but will also further strengthen the connectivity of Patna—the capital of Bihar—with the country's major cities.