Darbhanga / Patna : Hopes are rising for 24-hour flight operations at Darbhanga Airport in north Bihar after an Indian Air Force (IAF) survey team conducted an inspection of the site on Friday. If all goes according to plan, the airport could soon facilitate night landings — a significant shift for a facility currently limited to daylight operations.
The IAF team assessed existing infrastructure and held discussions with Airport Director Nadeem Nazim and other senior officials. Airport sources indicated that a follow-up inspection is scheduled for May 24. A positive report could pave the way for full-day flight movements.
Gopalji Thakur, MP and Chairman of the Darbhanga Airport Advisory Committee, confirmed the inspection and said the team would submit its findings to the Ministry of Defence. “I have met officials from the Airport Authority of India as well as the Union Home and Defence Ministers multiple times regarding this matter,” Thakur said. “It is after these meetings that this team was dispatched. The introduction of night landing facilities will allow aircraft to operate during all hours.”
Despite its limited infrastructure, Darbhanga Airport has witnessed consistent growth in passenger traffic. In the 2023–24 financial year, it was the only airport in Bihar to turn a profit, outperforming Patna and Gaya airports, which both posted losses. The facility serves passengers from nearly a dozen districts in the region.
However, the airport continues to grapple with service disruptions. On Friday, a SpiceJet flight between Mumbai and Darbhanga was cancelled for the second consecutive day, leaving many passengers stranded. Travellers scheduled for connecting flights to Gulf countries via Mumbai were particularly affected.
