Patna, Bihar: Air India and Air India Express on Tuesday announced a significant boost in capacity, adding a total of 166 weekly flights to and from Patna to cater to the anticipated surge in travel during Diwali and Chhath Puja. The move comes as Bihar prepares for both the festive rush and the upcoming Assembly elections.
The expanded schedule will be in effect from October 15 to November 2 for Air India, and from October 22 to November 3 for Air India Express. The additional flights aim to ease congestion and provide passengers with more travel options during one of the busiest travel periods in the state.
Air India will operate 38 extra flights each on the Delhi-Patna, Mumbai-Patna, and Bengaluru-Patna routes. Meanwhile, Air India Express will add 26 flights each on the Delhi-Patna and Bengaluru-Patna sectors. These augmentations come in addition to Air India’s current 42 weekly flights from Delhi and Mumbai, and Air India Express’s 14 weekly flights from Delhi and Bengaluru, significantly enhancing connectivity to Bihar’s capital.
An airline official said, “This expansion will provide greater convenience for passengers traveling home to celebrate the festivals with family or for election-related journeys. It will also ensure smoother onward connections to other Indian cities and international destinations in the Middle East and Europe via Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru hubs.”
