Patna airport handles 1.65 lakh flyers in a month

PATNA: More than 1.65 lakh people have either boarded flights or landed at Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport since resumption of domestic flight operations in the country. The airport has handled 550 aircraft (arrivals and departures) after introduction of Unlock 1.0.
With 22 flights operating per day, the number of flyers landing at Patna airport was around 52% higher than those leaving the city for other destinations during this period.On Tuesday, around 7,000 passengers either landed or boarded flights at city airport. According to airport officials, the passenger footfall has gradually increased from the first phase of unlock (June 1).

Santosh Kumar, assistant general manager (air traffic management) said the incoming flights remain mostly full while the departing ones record 70% occupancy. “We are hopeful that the passenger growth will increase in the days to come. The revised flight schedule of Patna airport, which came into effect from June 16, will continue till July-end,” he added.
Flight operations had resumed at the airport on May 25 with 11 flights. The number of flights has now gone up to 22 – Delhi (12), Bengaluru (4), Mumbai (3) and Kolkata, Hyderabad and Amritsar (one each).
A movable personal protective equipment kiosk was inaugurated at the airport on June 19. “A PPE sales kiosk commenced operations outside the terminal building. It is a movable kiosk and can be placed at any location for selling masks, sanitiser, gloves and face shields at affordable prices to passengers/visitors,” the Patna airport has tweeted.
Meanwhile, the ongoing extension work at the airport is in full swing. The project is likely to be completed by August. After the extension of the terminal building, the airport can handle up to 2.5 lakh passengers per annum.
K S Vijayan, general manager (engineering), projects, AAI Patna, said the extended area of over 2,000sq metre would have security hold area, conveyor belt area, six more check-in counters, three x-ray machines for the registered baggage and two frisking booths.