SpiceJet to begin flight operations from Darbhanga on August 1

PATNA: Budget carrier SpiceJet will begin flight operations from the Darbhanga airbase as part of the UDAN (‘Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik’) scheme of the Union ministry of civil aviation from August 1.
Addressing a press conference in Darbhanga on Wednesday, SpiceJet officials Syed Hasan and Navneet Kumar pointed out that the booking of three flights connecting Darbhanga to Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai would start from May 1.
“Flyers will be able to book tickets for Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai from Darbhanga at affordable rates. The flights will operate during day hours,” Hasan said.
Meanwhile, the re-carpeting work of the runway at Darbhanga airbase and construction of a temporary pre-fabricated terminal building are in the process.
According to Patna airport director Rajender Singh Lahauria, “With a 9,000 feet long runway, the airport will have a capacity to handle 150 departing and 150 arriving passengers at a time. Work on re-carpeting of the runway and construction of a civil enclave will be completed by May or June.”
Once operational, smaller commercial aircraft will easily operate from the runway while others like Airbus and Boeing need a runway of at least 9,500 feet for safe landing and take-off.
The foundation stone for the new terminal building at Darbhanga airport was laid by chief minister Nitish Kumar and Union civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu in the presence of state civil aviation minister Jayant Sinha on December 24, 2018.
The Darbhanga airbase will be the state’s third airport for operating commercial flights. The government has recently allotted 55 acres of land for construction of a new terminal building, cargo, parking space and other auxiliary facilities.