Air India Express Launches Direct Flights from Patna to Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Hyderabad

Air India Express Launches Direct Flights from Patna to Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Hyderabad

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 18, 2025

Patna now enjoys enhanced connectivity with the launch of Air India Express operations, which introduced three direct flights to Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Hyderabad. The inaugural flights, part of the airline’s strategy to connect emerging cities with key domestic and international destinations, were celebrated at a vibrant event at Jay Prakash Narayan Airport, attended by senior officials from the Airport Authority of India, Air India Express, and other key stakeholders.

Enhanced Connectivity for Patna

With 21 weekly flights, Air India Express now connects Patna directly to three major cities:

  • Bengaluru: India’s ‘Silicon Valley’ and technology hub.
  • Bhubaneswar: The ‘Temple City’ and a center for tourism and economic growth.
  • Hyderabad: The ‘City of Pearls’ and a leading IT and pharmaceutical hub.

In addition to direct flights, passengers from Patna can access 14 domestic destinations, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Goa, and Jaipur, and 2 international destinationsAbu Dhabi and Dammam—via one-stop connections.

Flight Schedule (Effective January 15, 2025)

Route Departure Arrival Frequency
Patna → Bengaluru 09:05 11:45 Daily
Bengaluru → Patna 05:55 08:35 Daily
Patna → Hyderabad 13:45 15:55 Daily
Hyderabad → Patna 11:05 13:05 Daily
Bhubaneswar → Patna 14:55 16:20 Daily
Patna → Bhubaneswar 17:00 18:30 Daily

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Rapid Network Expansion

Air India Express is in a phase of rapid growth, supported by its expanding fleet nearing the 100-aircraft milestone. The airline recently surpassed 50 destinations, including domestic locations like Dimapur, Dibrugarh, and Jammu, and international additions such as Bangkok and Phuket. With over 400 daily flights, a 30% increase from the previous year, Air India Express is strengthening its presence in India’s aviation landscape.

Vacation Planning Made Easy with Xpress Holidays

To complement its growing network, Air India Express offers Xpress Holidays, a platform for booking comprehensive vacation packages. Travelers can conveniently plan trips with flights, accommodations, transport, and curated experiences, ensuring a seamless travel experience.

With this latest expansion, Air India Express reaffirms its commitment to enhancing connectivity and providing passengers with accessible, efficient, and memorable travel options.

About Air India Express 

Air India Express is A Tata Enterprise and a subsidiary of Air India, operating over 400 daily flights, connecting 37 domestic and 16 international airports, with a fleet of 94 aircraft, comprising 62 Boeing 737s and 32 Airbus A320s. Air India Express invites guests with the proposition to ‘Fly As You Are’, using thoughtfully considered technology to enable flyers to personalise and take charge of their travel experience. The airline offers ‘Gourmair’ hot meals, comfortable seats, and a host of exclusive loyalty benefits with a sense of unique Indian warmth, and an award-winning digital experience on its mobile app and website, airindiaexpress.com. 


IndiGo Focuses on Operational Stability, Plans Select Route Expansion

IndiGo Focuses on Operational Stability, Plans Select Route Expansion

By Hariharan U

Published on January 3, 2026

IndiGo has outlined a cautious yet forward-looking approach as it prepares for the next phase of growth, placing strong emphasis on “operational reliability” while planning a limited set of international route additions. The airline said its immediate focus is to “stabilise operations” as it continues to strengthen capacity and network resilience.

As part of its international plans, IndiGo has announced the launch of non-stop services to Athens. This route will also mark the international debut of India’s first Airbus A321XLR, a new aircraft type expected to support the airline’s entry into fresh overseas markets as it gradually expands beyond short-haul operations.

Beyond Athens, the airline has not shared details of additional international destinations or capacity increases. IndiGo stated that it will continue to grow its international footprint while further densifying its domestic network, without outlining the pace or scale of expansion.

On the domestic front, the airline is also preparing to begin operations from Noida International Airport at Jewar, strengthening its presence in the National Capital Region once services commence.

Addressing recent operational challenges, IndiGo said it had swiftly restored normal operations following a temporary network disruption. The airline also confirmed that it is “fully collaborating and providing requested information to the regulator's committee” as part of an ongoing review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

While IndiGo reiterated its long-term ambitions, including plans related to widebody aircraft and sustained growth, its near-term outlook remains measured. The airline said its renewed focus on stability will help drive future scale, innovation, and impact as it carefully explores new frontiers.


Navi Mumbai Airport Sees 26,000+ Passengers in First Five Days

Navi Mumbai Airport Sees 26,000+ Passengers in First Five Days

By Hariharan U

Published on January 1, 2026

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has made an impressive start, handling a total of 26,021 passengers in its first five days of operations. This includes 12,431 arrivals and 13,590 departures, showing strong demand right from day one.

Weekend traffic was particularly high, with 5,548 travellers on Saturday and 5,614 on Sunday, reflecting growing confidence among passengers. During this initial period, the airport managed 162 flight movements, 81 arrivals and 81 departures, while keeping on-time performance smooth for both airlines and ground services.

Currently, NMIA connects 13 major domestic destinations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa (MOPA), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Nagpur, Vadodara. These connections cover key business and leisure hubs, giving travellers more options and conveand nience in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Looking ahead, the airport plans to expand its network with additional destinations and increased flight frequencies in coordination with partner airlines. With strong early passenger response and ready infrastructure, NMIA is set to become a modern, seamless travel hub in Western India


Air India Expands Partnership with airBaltic to Offer Seamless Connectivity to Latvia

Air India Expands Partnership with airBaltic to Offer Seamless Connectivity to Latvia

By Hariharan U

Published on January 1, 2026

Air India has strengthened its partnership with airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, by entering into a new codeshare agreement, making travel between India and the Baltic region easier and more seamless for its customers. This move builds on the interline partnership established between the two carriers in June 2025.

Under the codeshare, Air India has begun adding its ‘AI’ designator code on airBaltic-operated flights between Riga and Air India’s European gateways including Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Milan Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, and London Gatwick. This allows passengers to travel between India and Riga with a single Air India ticket, covering connecting flights under the same booking.

Additionally, Air India’s interline agreement with airBaltic allows travellers to reach Tallinn, Estonia, and Vilnius, Lithuania via select European gateways, further expanding access to the Baltic region.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, "This expanded partnership with airBaltic reflects Air India’s commitment to providing seamless global connectivity to our customers. Latvia and the wider Baltic region are growing travel markets, and this codeshare makes the journey more convenient than ever."

Air India currently operates multiple non-stop flights connecting India with Europe:

  • Delhi: Amsterdam (7x weekly), Paris (14x weekly), Frankfurt (12x weekly), Copenhagen (4x weekly), Milan (6x weekly), Vienna (4x weekly), Zurich (4x weekly)

  • Mumbai: Frankfurt (5x weekly)

  • Amritsar & Ahmedabad: London Gatwick (3x weekly each)

Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has expanded its global alliance network to include 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, offering passengers access to over 800 destinations worldwide.

The new codeshare flights are now available for booking through both airlines’ official channels and travel partners.

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