Patna Airport Set for Major Upgrade with New Aerobridges and Taxiway
Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna is gearing up for a significant enhancement. Three additional aerobridges and parking bays are expected to become operational by January. A new parallel taxi-track will also start functioning alongside them. This development promises to streamline airside movements and improve passenger experience.
Current Status and Upcoming Additions
Currently, only two aerobridges are functional at the airport's new terminal building. The terminal was inaugurated in May 2025. The remaining three aerobridges have already been constructed. All physical work, stand preparations, and related documentation from the airport's side are complete.
Airport director Chandra Pratap Dwivedi provided details to TOI. He confirmed that only two aerobridges are operational right now. "The remaining three are constructed and ready to use," Dwivedi said. "We submitted all necessary paperwork to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation last month."
Applications for DGCA approval were submitted on specific dates. The third aerobridge application went in on December 4. Another followed on December 23. The fifth aerobridge application was submitted on December 28. Associated parking bays applications were submitted on December 8.
Benefits of Additional Aerobridges
Dwivedi highlighted the advantages of more aerobridges. They will allow seamless boarding and de-boarding directly from the terminal. Passengers will be shielded from harsh weather conditions. The process will also become faster and more efficient.
Airport authorities stated that the aerobridges will start functioning once DGCA gives clearance. This approval is likely to come in January itself.
Expansion of Parking Bays
The apron facility previously had six parking bays. It will soon increase to eight bays suitable for larger aircraft like Airbus. Five of these will feature aerobridges for direct boarding. Three will be remote bays where passengers board via buses without aerobridge connectivity.
In addition to these, three more bays are designated for smaller aircraft. These include Dornier planes used primarily for medical ambulances and similar operations. This brings the total count of parking bays to eleven.
New Parallel Taxi-Track Ready
Dwivedi confirmed that the new taxi track has already received DGCA approval. It will also start functioning soon. The parallel taxiway stretches 1,389 meters alongside the runway.
This infrastructure will significantly reduce the time aircraft spend occupying the runway. Consequently, the airport will soon be able to handle more flights. The enhancement will boost the runway's operational capacity by allowing more flights to be processed in less time.
Overall Impact on Airport Operations
These improvements will minimize ground and airborne delays. They will lead to substantial fuel savings for airlines. Passengers will experience shorter waiting times both before take-off and after landing. The upgrades position Patna's airport for better efficiency and increased traffic handling.
