Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express announced on Tuesday that 166 flights would be added to and from Bihar capital's Patna in order to address the increase in demand for air travel around Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations. The expansion of services represents one of the largest seasonal capacity increases for the eastern Indian city, it added.
Air India will be adding 114 supplementary flights across three key routes. Starting October 15 and continuing through November 2, the airline plans to add 38 flights each on the Delhi-Patna, Mumbai-Patna, and Bengaluru-Patna sectors.
Meanwhile, Air India Express will be operating 52 additional services between October 22 and November 3. The low-cost carrier's schedule includes 26 extra flights between Delhi and Patna, plus another 26 connecting Bengaluru with the Bihar capital.
From 15 October to 2 November 2025, Air India will operate:
38 additional flights between Delhi and Patna
38 additional flights between Mumbai and Patna
38 additional flights between Bengaluru and Patna
From 22 October to 3 November 2025, Air India Express will operate:
26 additional flights between Delhi and Patna
26 additional flights between Bengaluru and Patna
The airline informed that these flights will be in addition to the ones operating presently.
Air India currently operates 42 weekly services to Patna from Delhi and Mumbai combined, while Air India Express runs 14 weekly flights linking Patna with Delhi and Bengaluru.
The additional flights aim to accommodate travelers returning home for family gatherings during the festival season — a period traditionally marked by significant movement of people across the country.
Patna serves as a crucial gateway for Bihar and surrounding regions, making it a focal point for festival travel, the airlines said.
The airlines added that beyond direct connections, passengers traveling through Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru can access onward connections to numerous domestic destinations, as well as international routes spanning the Middle East and Europe.
Travelers looking to book the additional services can do so through multiple channels. Reservations are available via the airlines' official websites and mobile applications, round-the-clock contact centers, physical ticketing offices at cities and airports, or through travel agencies globally.
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