Patna: Preparations for the launch of night flight operations at Darbhanga Airport have gained pace after JD(U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Thursday.
During the meeting, Jha discussed the operational requirements needed to begin night landing services at the airport. He also submitted a formal letter seeking additional Air Force personnel, technical assistance, and an extension of Air Traffic Control (ATC) watch hours to support evening and night-time flight operations.
Jha later said that the Defence Minister had assured him of positive consideration on the matter.
Growing Importance of Darbhanga Airport
In a post shared on social media platform X, Jha said that Darbhanga Airport had emerged as a key aviation centre not only for the Mithila region but also for North Bihar and areas bordering Nepal.
दरभंगा एयरपोर्ट से जल्द शुरू होंगी रात्रिकालीन उड़ान सेवा!
नई दिल्ली में आज (22 मई को) माननीय केंद्रीय रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह जी से मुलाकात कर दरभंगा एयरपोर्ट पर नाइट लैंडिंग सुविधा के प्रभावी संचालन से जुड़े विषयों पर विस्तार से चर्चा की। इस दौरान उन्हें एक पत्र सौंपकर… pic.twitter.com/HAPZxT6zgr
— Sanjay Kumar Jha (@SanjayJhaBihar) May 22, 2026
He stated that since the inauguration of the interim civil enclave under the UDAN scheme in November 2020, more than 30 lakh passengers have travelled through the airport.
According to Jha, the growing passenger traffic has increased demand for additional flight slots, particularly after 5 pm.
Push for International Airport Status
Jha also said that the Centre had already granted in-principle approval for developing Darbhanga Airport into an international airport.
To support the expansion, the Bihar government has nearly completed the acquisition of around 90 acres of land required for extending the runway to 3,700 metres.
He added that the construction of a permanent civil enclave and installation of a CAT-I lighting system were in the final stages. The process of acquiring nearly 50 acres of land for a proposed logistics park near the airport is also expected to be completed by July.
Demand for Evening Flight Slots
At present, around 18 flights operate daily from Darbhanga Airport. However, airlines seeking slots for flights after 5 pm have reportedly been unable to secure approvals due to limited ATC operational hours.
Jha said the introduction of night flight services would improve passenger convenience and provide a boost to tourism, trade, investment, and the regional economy across North Bihar.
Meeting with Civil Aviation Minister
Earlier, on May 20, Jha had also met Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and requested faster completion of the permanent civil enclave project at Darbhanga Airport along with the commencement of international flight services.
According to Jha, the Civil Aviation Minister assured him that the necessary procedures would be completed by November.
