The festive season in India is the perfect excuse to finally plan that trip you’ve been thinking about. With Diwali and Chhath Puja just around the corner, people are heading back home to celebrate. But the excitement in Bihar is on a whole different level. To meet the growing travel demand, Air India and Air India Express have added 166 flights to Bihar. Read on to know more.
Air India & Air India Express Add 166 Flights To Bihar
Bihar isn’t just bustling because of festivals this year; it’s also gearing up for the assembly elections. With these two major events happening at the same time, travel demand in the state has surged like never before. According to Hindustan Times, to meet this demand, domestic airlines are stepping in for the first time in history by adding new flights. Air India and Air India Express are launching a total of 166 additional flights to and from Patna for a limited time.
The group airlines will run 38 extra flights each on popular routes like Delhi–Patna, Mumbai–Patna, and Bengaluru–Patna. On top of that, Air India Express will add 26 more flights each between Delhi–Patna and Bengaluru–Patna routes from October 22 to November 3, reported Hindustan Times.
Ajay Prakash, owner of Nomad Travels and former president of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), in talks with Hindustan Times, said that this move is unprecedented in Indian aviation. He said that domestic airlines have never before added capacity specifically for one state to meet festival travel demand. Industry experts see this as a significant development, highlighting the increasing role of air travel in India’s domestic market.
Also Read: Bihar Gets Its First-Ever Metro Line In Patna; Route, Stations, Fares & More Details Inside
IndiGo Expands Its Network
Improving air connectivity in Bihar, IndiGo recently launched direct flights connecting Kolkata and Purnea. This new direct route is planned to operate three times a week. With these developments, travellers now have more options to reach Bihar efficiently and comfortably, whether for festivals or to cast their votes in the two-phase elections scheduled for November 6 and 11.
With leading airlines adding more flights, this move can be seen as an effort to make travel more convenient, especially during the festive rush when demand is at its peak.
So, this festive season, where are you planning to travel to? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: Massive 4-Day Traffic Jam On Delhi-Kolkata Highway Leaves Hundreds Of Vehicles Stranded In Bihar
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons