Patna: Dense fog and unstable winter weather caused widespread disruption to flight operations at Patna Airport on Saturday, with dozens of services delayed and at least one key flight cancelled, leaving passengers facing long waits and uncertainty.
Airport officials said a total of 30 flights were delayed over the course of the day, including 14 arrivals and 16 departures. The delays ranged from about 25 minutes to nearly three hours, as aircraft movements were staggered in response to poor visibility and changing weather conditions.
The Delhi sector was the worst affected. The first Air India flight scheduled to operate between Patna and Delhi was cancelled due to adverse weather, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. Many were forced to look for alternative connections, while others chose to postpone their travel plans altogether.
Operations began slowly in the morning. The first flight to land at the airport was an IndiGo service from Bengaluru, which touched down at around 11am. The first departure of the day was also an IndiGo flight to Bengaluru, which took off shortly before noon.
From early morning, the terminal buildings were crowded, with passengers repeatedly checking display boards and mobile alerts as departure and arrival times were revised. While airlines continued to issue updates, the frequent changes led to visible frustration, particularly among elderly passengers, families with children and women travellers.
Some passengers said they had been waiting for hours without clear information, adding to the strain of travelling in winter conditions.
Airport sources said flight movements were being handled with caution to ensure safety, given the combination of fog and fluctuating weather. Officials stressed that delays and cancellations were unavoidable under such conditions and urged passengers to check the latest flight status before leaving for the airport and to allow extra time for their journeys.
