Patna: An initiative is under way to expand direct flight services from Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna to every state capital in India, in what officials say will bring significant relief to passengers.
At present, Patna has direct connections to nine states, including Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab/Haryana and Odisha. The airport administration is in talks with major airlines to establish services to the remaining state capitals, with carriers said to be responding positively.
The number of daily flights from Patna, currently around 80, is expected to increase to 100 in the coming months. However, passengers may have to wait longer for international connections. Plans are in place to launch services to Kathmandu, while airlines have also been urged to consider routes to cities within a 5,000 km radius. Officials argue that such links could boost business, tourism and employment opportunities in Bihar.
Nilesh Ramchandra Devre, director at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), recently met airline executives in Patna to discuss the proposals. Airport director Krishna Mohan Nehra said the priority remained direct domestic connectivity but acknowledged challenges posed by infrastructure.
Because of the height of the Secretariat Tower near the airport, 134 metres of the runway cannot be used, limiting operations for larger aircraft. Airlines are often forced to fly with reduced passenger loads, which Nehra described as economically unviable. He added that extending the runway by at least 500 metres was essential both for accommodating larger aircraft and for enabling future international services.
