Patna: IndiGo Airlines is set to introduce a new flight service connecting Patna, Darbhanga, Gaya and Purnia to Shanghai in China via Kolkata, offering travellers from Bihar a new international travel option. The service is scheduled to begin on March 29, with bookings already open.
The new route will provide, for the first time, air connectivity between these four cities and Shanghai, one of China’s major commercial centres. Passengers will travel from their respective cities to Kolkata, where they will board a connecting flight to Shanghai.
According to airline information available during booking, the one-way fare from Patna to Shanghai via Kolkata starts at approximately Rs 15,999.
The total flying time from Patna to Shanghai is expected to be around five hours and 30 minutes, although passengers will experience a layover of roughly eight hours and 40 minutes in Kolkata before boarding the onward flight.
For travellers from other cities in Bihar, the estimated flight duration is slightly different. The journey from Darbhanga is expected to take around five hours and 50 minutes, while passengers from Purnia will have a flying time of about five hours and 35 minutes before the connection.
Airline officials said the service will simplify international travel for passengers in the region, who currently often have to travel to major metro cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru or Pune to board flights to China.
The airline has also indicated that passengers’ baggage will be checked in directly from Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga or Purnia and collected only upon arrival in Shanghai, reducing the inconvenience of re-checking luggage during the transit.
The new route is also expected to significantly shorten travel times. At present, reaching Shanghai from Bihar typically takes 30 to 32 hours, depending on the route and connecting flights. With the new service via Kolkata, the journey time is expected to reduce to approximately 14 to 15 hours.
The introduction of the route is expected to benefit business travellers, students and tourists travelling between Bihar and China, while strengthening international air connectivity for the state.
