Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday flagged off IndiGo’s first non-stop flight from Gaya to Bangkok, adding a twice-weekly international service aimed at improving access to Bodh Gaya and strengthening air links between Bihar and Thailand.
The flight was inaugurated through videoconferencing at a ceremony in Patna. Choudhary greeted passengers on the inaugural service and said the new connection would strengthen religious, cultural and tourism ties between Bihar and Thailand.
Gaya is the principal air gateway to Bodh Gaya, one of the world’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. The chief minister said the direct service would make travel easier for international visitors and support tourism across the Magadh region. The route is being launched ahead of the pilgrim season, when Gaya Airport is preparing for an increase in domestic and foreign tourist movement under its winter schedule.
The new service is expected to support hotels, transport operators, handicraft businesses and other enterprises dependent on tourism. Choudhary said improved air connectivity would help Bihar give wider international recognition to its cultural heritage, historical sites and local products.
The launch is part of a broader state effort to expand aviation access through airports in Patna, Darbhanga, Gaya and Purnia. Choudhary said the state was working on a policy to increase connectivity on new international routes, with expected support from IndiGo. He also said coordination to expand international air services in Bihar would continue.
Gaya’s international network has expanded in recent days. Thailand-based Thai Airways began direct flights to Bangkok over the weekend, while Thai AirAsia started a service connecting Gaya with Don Mueang. Thai AirAsia’s flights are scheduled to operate three days a week—Tuesday, Friday and Sunday—until March 26, 2027.
Domestic connectivity has also increased. Air India began two services on the Delhi-Gaya-Delhi route from Sunday, with the airline’s winter schedule scheduled to remain in operation until March 27, 2027.
The expansion gives pilgrims and tourists more direct travel options during the period of higher seasonal demand. It also places additional importance on the ability of Gaya Airport and local tourism-linked services to manage international arrivals, onward transport and visitor requirements. The state government’s proposed international connectivity policy is expected to guide further route expansion.
