Patna: In a major relief for Haj pilgrims from Bihar, Patna Airport will serve as a direct Haj embarkation point for Haj 2027, allowing pilgrims to fly straight to Jeddah or Madinah without transiting through another city.
This will be the first time that pilgrims departing from Patna will have access to direct international Haj flights. Although Haj operations were conducted from Patna Airport until 2011, passengers were required to travel to Kolkata to board connecting flights to Saudi Arabia. The new arrangement will eliminate that additional journey, reducing travel time and making the pilgrimage more convenient. The direct flight from Patna to Saudi Arabia is expected to take around seven hours.
Along with Patna, Gaya Airport will also resume Haj operations for 2027. Haj flights from Gaya began in 2012, and pilgrims were flown directly to Jeddah or Madinah until 2025. However, Haj operations from Gaya were suspended in 2026 due to a lower number of pilgrims.
Online Applications Open Until July 20
The last date to submit online applications for Haj 2027 is July 20. Pilgrims can apply through the Haj Committee of India website or the Haj Suvidha mobile application.
Rashid Hussain, Chief Executive Officer of the Bihar State Haj Committee, said the launch of Haj operations from Patna Airport would significantly benefit pilgrims from the state. He noted that the Haj Bhawan is located close to the airport, making travel arrangements easier for applicants.
He also urged intending pilgrims to obtain or renew their passports well in advance and select Patna as their preferred embarkation point while submitting their applications.
Patna Among 19 Haj Embarkation Points
A total of 19 airports across India have been designated as Haj embarkation points for 2027. These include Patna, Gaya, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Calicut, Cochin, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Srinagar and Vijayawada.
Ranchi has not been included as an embarkation point this year.
Bihar’s Haj Quota and Initial Payment
Bihar has been allotted a Haj quota of approximately 12,000 pilgrims. Since the state generally does not receive applications exceeding its quota, applicants are expected to have a higher chance of selection.
Selected pilgrims will be required to deposit an initial amount of ₹1,52,300 by August 10. The final Haj package cost for 2027 has not yet been announced.
Passport Mandatory for Haj Application
A valid passport is mandatory for applying for Haj 2027. The passport must remain valid until at least December 31, 2027.
To assist applicants, the Bihar State Haj Committee has arranged passport application facilities at Haj Bhawan on Harding Road in Patna, where applicants can complete passport-related formalities along with their Haj application process.
Age Guidelines
According to the Saudi Arabian government’s guidelines, children below the age of 15 will not be permitted to perform Haj. The same rule was in effect last year.
Pilgrims aged above 65 years will be required to travel with an attendant. The entire cost of the attendant’s travel and stay will have to be borne by the pilgrim.
