Darbhanga: IndiGo has launched a new international connecting flight service from Darbhanga Airport to Shanghai via Kolkata, marking a significant boost to air connectivity in north Bihar.
The service commenced with 18 passengers on its inaugural day. Under the new arrangement, travellers will fly from Darbhanga to Kolkata, where they will board a connecting international flight to Shanghai after a layover of approximately eight hours, with the onward departure scheduled around midnight.
Passengers were welcomed at the airport with a ceremonial gesture, including the distribution of boarding passes and roses. Airport officials organised a special reception for the first travellers, with the inaugural passenger receiving a formal welcome before others were processed for departure.
Travellers expressed satisfaction with the new service, noting that it simplifies journeys that previously required departures from larger hubs such as Delhi or Kolkata. The addition of Darbhanga as a departure point is expected to reduce travel time and improve convenience for residents of the region.
The flight departs Darbhanga at 12:38pm and reaches Kolkata in about an hour, according to airport authorities. From there, passengers connect to the Shanghai-bound service.
Dilip Kumar, director of Darbhanga Airport, said all operational arrangements had been completed and passenger boarding was under way. He added that facilities at the airport would continue to be upgraded to support growing demand.
