Patna: A prolonged spell of cold weather and dense fog has severely disrupted air traffic in Patna, with flight operations at the city’s airport remaining erratic for much of the past fortnight.
Airport data show that over the last 15 days, as many as 71 flights were cancelled while 286 others were delayed by between one hour and two-and-a-half hours, largely due to poor visibility conditions during morning and late-night operations.
IndiGo accounted for the majority of cancellations, with 44 flights — around 62% of the total — taken off the schedule. Air India followed with 14 cancellations, or about a fifth of the total, while other carriers were also affected intermittently as weather conditions worsened.
Passengers have reported widespread inconvenience, with many saying they were informed of cancellations only on the day of travel, often just one or two hours before departure. The lack of advance notice left travellers scrambling for alternatives, particularly those with connecting flights or time-sensitive plans.
While airlines have offered refunds or rebookings on alternate services, passengers say the sudden disruptions have caused stress and financial loss. Several took to social media to vent their frustration, arguing that earlier communication could have helped them rearrange journeys more effectively.
Disruptions continued into Monday, when at least 13 flights from Patna to major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad departed late, forcing passengers to wait for extended periods at the airport.
With fog and cold wave conditions expected to persist, aviation officials warn that flight schedules may remain unstable in the coming days. Many travellers have already postponed trips or opted for rail and road transport, bracing for further uncertainty until weather conditions improve.
