AI withdraws landing of big aircraft to Patna, more may follow

Patna,(BiharTimes): Following the renotification of the length of runways of Patna airport by the Airport Authority of India Air India on Sunday said it was temporarily withdrawing the Delhi-Patna-Delhi evening flight, AAI 415/146 from August 8 to 31. Incidentally, AI operates three daily schedule flight, all Airbus 328, between Delhi and Patna.
The AAI decision, is effective August 16, will make the Jai Prakash Narayan International airport here practically unviable for the operation of big planes as the landing distance available on both ends of the runway has been substantially reduced.

While airlines, which do not have small aircraft like ATR Jets, are working overtime to explore new options. The only option readily available is Gaya. The state government, on its part, is mulling on how to thwart the inevitable.