Jay Prakash Narayan Airport
{{Short description|International airport in Patna, Bihar, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Jay Prakash Narayan Airport
| image = Patna Airport Latest.jpg
| IATA = PAT
| ICAO = VEPT
| pushpin_map = India Patna#Bihar#India
| pushpin_label = PAT
| type = Public
| owner = Airports Authority of India
| operator = Airports Authority of India
| city-served = Patna
| location = Patna, Bihar, India
| metric-elev = yes
| elevation-f = 170
| elevation-m = 52
| coordinates = {{Coord|25|35|29|N|085|05|21|E|region:IN_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website = [https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/patna Patna Airport]
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 07/25
| r1-length-m = 2072
| r1-length-f = 6798
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 3,819,477 ({{increase}} 11%)
| stat-year = April 2024 - March 2025
| stat2-header = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data = 25,992 ({{increase}} 9.5%)
| stat3-header = Cargo tonnage
| stat3-data = 9,135 ({{decrease}} 0.3%)
| footnotes = Source: AAI{{cite web|title=Annexure III – Passenger Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex3.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=28 April 2025}}{{cite web|title=Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex2.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=28 April 2025}}{{cite web|title=Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex4.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=28 April 2025}}
| image-width = 270
}}
Jay Prakash Narayan Airport {{airport codes|PAT|VEPT}} is a domestic airport serving Patna, the capital of Bihar, India.{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1160506/jsp/bihar/story_84042.jsp#.VzGfq_l97IU |title=Airport takes big leap... |date=6 May 2016 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=25 January 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006111941/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1160506/jsp/bihar/story_84042.jsp#.VzGfq_l97IU |archive-date=6 October 2017 }} It is named after the independence activist and political leader, Jayprakash Narayan.{{Cite web |url=http://customspatnazone.bih.nic.in/Jurisdiction.html |title=Official WebSite of Central Excise and Service Tax, Patna Zone |website=customspatnazone.bih.nic.in |access-date=25 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012933/http://customspatnazone.bih.nic.in/Jurisdiction.html |archive-date=26 January 2018 }} It is the 20th-busiest airport in India.{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160408/jsp/bihar/story_78931.jsp#.Vwi0KGOqR8O | work=The Telegraph | title=Bihta gets bigger wings | date=8 April 2016 | access-date=9 April 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411032943/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160408/jsp/bihar/story_78931.jsp#.Vwi0KGOqR8O | archive-date=11 April 2016 | df=dmy-all }} To meet demand, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is working to expand and modernise airport infrastructure. The airport has undergone an ambitious expansion project that includes a new two-level passenger terminal, the new terminal building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29 May 2025.{{Cite web |last=PTI |last2=ThePrint |date=29 May 2025 |title=PM Modi inaugurates Rs 1,200-cr new terminal of Patna airport |url=https://theprint.in/india/pm-modi-inaugurates-rs-1200-cr-new-terminal-of-patna-airport/2641177/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170820/jsp/bihar/story_168111.jsp |title=Swanky terminal to replace old airport |website=The Telegraph |access-date=25 January 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070903/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170820/jsp/bihar/story_168111.jsp |archive-date=26 January 2018 }}{{cite news|last=Rumi|first=Faryal|date=23 April 2025|title=Opening of Patna airport's new terminal building postponed till May|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/opening-of-patna-airports-new-terminal-building-postponed-till-may/articleshow/120492864.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=28 April 2025}}
Overview
The airport currently has one runway with an asphalt surface measuring {{convert|2072|x|45|m|0}},{{cite web | url = http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/patna_techinfo.jsp | title = Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport: Technical Information | publisher = Airports Authority of India | access-date = 31 March 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120119174921/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/patna_techinfo.jsp | archive-date = 19 January 2012 | df = dmy-all }}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110806070236/http://www.worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=VEPT Airport information for VEPT]}} from DAFIF (effective October 2006) which makes it not possible for large aircraft to land. The terminal building at the airport is spread across an area of 12,000 square metres and can handle around 25 lakh (2.5 million) passengers annually. The waiting areas, as well as departure and arrival areas of the terminal building, have also been expanded recently due to the rising amounts of passengers flying to the airport. Due to the surge in passenger traffic, a new terminal is under construction which will replace the existing terminal.{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Cabinet-OKs-Patna-master-plan-paves-way-for-big-bulidings-new-airport/articleshow/55100844.cms |title=Cabinet OKs Patna master plan, paves way for big bulidings [sic], new airport |work=The Times of India |access-date=5 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807182141/http://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/residential/home-still-a-dream-sans-nod-to-map-in-patna/47294944 |archive-date=7 August 2016 }}
The airport's international air service to Nepal has been closed since the Indian Airlines Flight 814 was hijacked and taken to Kandahar on 24 December 1999.{{cite news |last1=Jha |first1=Ashish |date=8 July 2024 |title=Patna Airport: पटना एयरपोर्ट से 24 साल बाद शुरू होगी अंतरराष्ट्रीय उड़ान |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/patna/patna-airport-international-flights-will-start-from-patna-airport-after-24-years |work=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi |access-date=8 July 2024}} Since then, the airport does not handle any international operations. The airport is enabled with Digi Yatra facility since July 2024, so that passengers travelling from the airport can avail it for seamless check-in experience and save their time.{{Cite news |title=Patna: 'DigiYatra at Patna Airport' |url= https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/patna/news/digi-yatra-services-started-at-patna-airport-133409510.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar |date=30 July 2024 |access-date=30 July 2024}}
Facilities
=Terminal=
The new terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29 May 2025.{{cite news|last=Rumi|first=Faryal|title=New Patna airport terminal bldg by May 2024|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/new-airport-terminal-building-to-be-ready-by-may-2024-patna/articleshow/106056534.cms|work=The Times of India|date=17 December 2023|access-date=9 January 2024|language=en}} The terminal is built by NCC Limited and became operational on 3 June 2025.{{cite news |title=Flight operations to begin from Patna airport's new terminal tomorrow |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/flight-operations-to-begin-from-patna-airports-new-terminal-from-tomorrow/articleshow/121551710.cms}} The two-storey terminal, with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first, is built to accommodate 3,000 passengers at peak hours - 1,500 on each floor. Spread across 65,150 square metres, the facility boasts five aerobridges and 13 boarding gates. The terminal houses 64 check-in counters, nine automatic tray retrieval systems (ATRS), Digi Yatri gates for contactless travel, security checks on the first floor and four conveyor belts in the arrivals hall. Annual passenger handaling capacity of new terminal is 1 crore (10 million). The terminal's design pays tribute to Bihar's rich cultural heritage with traditional artwork, murals and carvings. Inspired by the ruins of Nalanda, the building includes an insulated roofing system, LED lighting and heat-minimising glazing for energy efficiency, targeting a 4-star GRIHA eco-rating. The multilevel car park (MLCP) on the city side is also operational from 3 June, offering space for 1,100 vehicles.
=Cargo terminal=
Patna Airport has a new domestic air cargo terminal, inaugurated on 25 February 2025. This terminal is significantly larger than the previous one, increasing the annual cargo handling capacity from 7,500 metric tonnes to 22,000 metric tonnes. The new terminal is also equipped with a cold storage facility, which is crucial for transporting perishable goods like mangoes and litchis.{{cite news |title=Patna Airport Opens New Domestic Cargo Terminal to Boost Air Freight Capacity |url=https://patnapress.com/patna-airport-opens-new-domestic-cargo-terminal-to-boost-air-freight-capacity/}}
Future expansion
File:PM inaugurates the new terminal building of Patna Airport, in Bihar on May 29, 2025..jpg
File:Patna Airport Latest.jpg File:Nitish Kumar and Samrat Chaudhary meeting with the officials for the expansion plan of JP Airport.jpg Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary in a meeting with officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for future development of the airport]]
Due to the sandwiching location between the Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan and Phulwari Sharif railway station, the runway of the airport is too short to accommodate larger aircraft. Because of this, and the rising demand and passenger traffic a new terminal has been under construction since October 2018, at a cost of ₹1,217 crore (US$152 million). It will have an area of 65,155 sq.m. (previously proposed as 57,000 sq.m.) from 7,200 sq.m. at present, with five aerobridges, and the apron will be able to handle 14 (11 code C and 3 ATR 72 type) aircraft, which at present can handle only six aircraft. The existing Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower will be demolished once the new tower adjacent to Birla Institute of Technology, Patna campus, becomes operational.
The interior design of the terminal will mostly be inspired by Madhubani art, which is a renowned traditional art form of Bihar, and the ruins of the Nalanda University. The design was created by the Singapore-based firm, Meinhardt and is being executed by the Hyderabad-based firm, Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited (NCC). It will be able to serve more than 80 lakh (8 million) passengers per year (previously proposed as 45 lakh), as compared to only around 30 lakh (3 million) passengers per year at present. Around 13.1 acres of land near the airport is used for its construction, and in lieu of 11.35 acres of land in Anisabad, the airport will be transferred to the Government of Bihar by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), once the expansion works are completed.
The area where the terminal is being built had several buildings, which included the Airport Colony and the IAS Bhavan, which were demolished, and utility buildings like the meteorological Centre and Bihar Flying Club were shifted. Once completed, the existing terminal will be demolished to make way for the expansion and revamping of the apron. The new terminal was expected be completed by 2021, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused lack of labour and resulted in many delays, it was supposed to be completed by the end of 2023. As of December 2024, more than 85% of work has been completed. New terminal building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on 29 May 2025.{{cite news|last=Rumi|first=Faryal|title=New Patna airport terminal bldg by May 2024|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/new-airport-terminal-building-to-be-ready-by-may-2024-patna/articleshow/106056534.cms|work=The Times of India|date=17 December 2023|access-date=9 January 2024|language=en}} All domestic flight operations were shifted to new terminal on 3 June 2025 after which old terminal building which was serving for more than two decade got decommissioned. {{cite news |title=Flight operations to begin from Patna airport's new terminal tomorrow |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/flight-operations-to-begin-from-patna-airports-new-terminal-from-tomorrow/articleshow/121551710.cms}}
The AAI has planned to develop a civil enclave at the Bihta Air Force Station, {{cvt|20|km}} away from Patna, to cater larger aircraft. In October 2016, The Cabinet of Bihar approved the Patna Master Plan, which envisages development of a new passenger terminal at Bihta. The Government of Bihar is acquiring 126 acres of land for construction of the terminal.{{Cite news |last=Tripathi |first=Piyesh |date=23 August 2018 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/state-govt-unable-to-give-more-land-for-bihta-airbase-runway/articleshow/65506559.cms |title=Bihta airbase runway: Bihar government unable to give more land for Bihta airbase runway |work=The Times of India |access-date=29 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/why-patna-airport-is-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/71986/|title=Why Patna airport is a disaster waiting to happen|first=Ratnadeep|last=Choudhary|website=ThePrint |date=19 June 2018|access-date=29 January 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Tripathi |first1=Piyush |title=Patna airport set for a makeover in 3 years |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/patna-airport-set-for-a-makeover-in-3-years/articleshow/61649029.cms |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=15 November 2017}}{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=25 September 2020 |title=With New Terminal, Patna Airport Will Handle 8 Million Passengers A Year: Aviation Minister |url=https://www.ndtv.com/patna-news/with-new-terminal-patna-airport-will-handle-8-million-passengers-a-year-aviation-minister-2300687 |access-date=4 September 2021 |work=NDTV}}
{{cite news |last1=Karmakar |first1=Debashish |title=Bihta: Land identified to make Bihta airport operational for flyers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Land-identified-to-make-Bihta-airport-operational-for-flyers/articleshow/54513137.cms |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=26 September 2016 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Tripathi |first1=Piyush |date=25 January 2017 |title=Centre OKs land transfer for airport building expansion |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/centre-oks-land-transfer-for-airport-building-expansion/articleshow/56766317.cms |access-date=9 May 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Raj |first1=Dev |title=Centre clears Rs 1217-cr project for Patna airport |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/bihar/centre-clears-rs-1217-project-for-patna-airport/cid/1670320 |access-date=5 April 2020 |work=www.telegraphindia.com |date=27 November 2018 |language=en}}
Airlines and destinations
{{Airport-dest-list
| {{nowrap|Air India Express}} | Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai,{{cite web |title=Air India Express NS25 Domestic Network Additions – 16MAR25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250317-ixns25dom |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=17 March 2025}} Delhi, Ghaziabad ,{{Cite web |title=एक मई से पटना के लिए हिंडन एयरपोर्ट से उड़ान, बनारस और लखनऊ के लिए भी फ्लाइट की तैयारी |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/uttar-pradesh/ghaziabad/flights-from-hindon-airport-to-patna-will-start-flights-to-banaras-and-lucknow/articleshow/120247164.cms |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}} Goa–Mopa, Guwahati,{{cite web |title=Air India Express NS25 Domestic Network Additions – 20APR25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250421-ixns25in |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=21 April 2025}} Hyderabad,{{cite news|title=Good news! Air India Express announces new flights from Patna airport|url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!state/new-flights-of-air-india-express-from-patna-to-hyderabad-bihar-news-brs24112804595|work=ETV Bharat Bihar|date=28 November 2024|access-date=3 December 2024|language=hi}}{{cite news|title=Good News For Air Travellers: Air India Express Announces 4 New Routes From Odisha|url=https://zeenews.india.com/aviation/good-news-for-air-travellers-air-india-express-announces-4-new-routes-from-odisha-2827509.html|work=Zee News|date=3 December 2024|access-date=3 December 2024|language=}} Kolkata
| IndiGo | Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, Ranchi
| SpiceJet{{cite web|url= https://corporate.spicejet.com/schedules.aspx|title=SpiceJet Flight Schedule|work=SpiceJet|access-date=3 December 2024}} | Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai
}}
Statistics
As of 2019-2020 data, Patna airport handled more than 40 lakh (4 million) passengers which was the highest ever recorded at the airport before the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|title=AAI Passenger Traffic News 2019-2020|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k20Annex3.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=12 February 2020}} Aircraft movements are currently at 25,501 which also has increased by 18.2% since previous years.{{cite web|title=AAI Aircraft Movements Data 2019-2020|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k20Annex2.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=12 February 2020}} Between 2021-22 the Patna Airport also handled 12,409 metric tones of cargo which also increased by 4.6% from the previous years.{{cite web|title=AAI Cargo News 2019-2020|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k20Annex4.pdf|website=www.aai.aero|access-date=12 February 2020}} Patna Airport is currently the 14th busiest airport in India in terms of passengers catered by the airport.
Passenger, Aircraft Movement, and Cargo at Patna Airport (2011-2024)
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%" width= align= | |||||||
| style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year | Passengers | Change | Aircraft Movement | Change | Cargo (MT) | Change | Ref |
| 2023–24
|3,440,450 |{{decrease}} 8.2% |23,740 |{{decrease}} 15% |9,165 |{{decrease}} 20.8% | |||||||
| 2022–23
|3,748,635 |{{increase}} 26.3% |27,931 |{{increase}} 9.5% |11,571 |{{decrease}} 6.8% | {{cite web|title=Annexure III|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/rev_Mar2k23Annex3.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite web|title=Annexure II – Aircraft Movement|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/rev_Mar2k23Annex2.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite web|title=Annexure IV|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/rev_Mar2k23Annex4.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=26 October 2024}} | |||||||
| 2021–22
|2,967,681 |{{increase}} 9.5% |25,501 |{{increase}} 18.2% |12,409 |{{increase}} 4.6% | |||||||
| 2020–21
|2,710,000 |{{decrease}} 40.1% |21,572 |{{decrease}} 30.3% |11,859 |{{decrease}} 3.2% | |||||||
| 2019–20
|4,525,765 |{{increase}} 11.4% |30,959 |{{increase}} 10.2% |12,249 |{{increase}} 7.1% | |||||||
| 2018–19
|4,061,900 |{{increase}} 30.6% |28,087 |{{increase}} 28.2% |11,435 |{{increase}} 66.2% | |||||||
| 2017–18
|3,111,273 |{{increase}} 47.3% | 21,916 | {{increase}} 41.3% |6,879 | {{increase}} 4.4% | |||||||
| 2016–17
| 2,112,150 | {{increase}} 33.3% | 15,508 | {{increase}} 11.2% | 6,591 | {{increase}} 49.3% | |||||||
| 2015–16
| 1,584,013 | {{increase}} 32.4% | 13,947 | {{increase}} 26.1% | 4,414 | {{decrease}} 15.1% | |||||||
| 2014–15
| 1,196,540 | {{increase}} 14.5% | 11,060 | {{increase}} 11.5% | 5,198 | {{increase}} 7.2% | |||||||
| 2013–14
| 1,044,127 | {{increase}} 4.1% | 9,902 | {{decrease}} 0.7% | 4,849 | {{increase}} 115.4% | |||||||
| 2012–13
| 1,003,169 | {{decrease}} 1.8% | 9,972 | {{decrease}} 3.8% | 2,251 | {{decrease}} 34.3% | |||||||
| 2011–12
| 1,021,544 | {{increase}} 21.8% | 10,369 | {{increase}} 8.6% | 3,425 | {{increase}} 4.5% |
Accidents and incidents
- On 17 July 2000, Alliance Air Flight 7412 crashed near the airport, killing 60 people.{{ASN|PAT}}
- On 19 June 2022, SpiceJet Boeing 737 flight SG723 with 185 passengers on-board made an emergency landing at Patna Airport after one of its engines caught fire in a suspected bird hit.{{cite news|title=Delhi-bound SpiceJet aircraft's engine catches fire mid-air, makes emergency landing at Patna airport|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/delhi-bound-spicejet-aircrafts-engine-catches-fire-mid-air-makes-emergency-landing-at-patna-airport-article-92314760|work=Times Now|date=19 June 2022|access-date=10 July 2022}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/patna Patna Airport webpage] at official Airports Authority of India web site.
{{Portalbar|India|Aviation}}
{{Patna}}
{{Airports in India}}
Category:International airports in India
Category:Buildings and structures in Patna