Patna flight cancellations by Air India Express have disrupted festival travel plans, with services from Bengaluru and Delhi withdrawn during the Diwali and Chhath rush when demand for travel to Bihar is at its peak.
Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna informed passengers that Air India Express flight IX-2004/2817, operating on the Bengaluru–Patna–Bengaluru route, had been cancelled from November 1 to November 15. The airline cited operational reasons for the cancellation, according to the airport.
The cancellation period covers both Diwali and Chhath, two major festivals during which large numbers of passengers travel to Bihar. A senior airport official confirmed the development, indicating that the disruption could affect passengers who had booked their journeys well in advance for the festive period.
Patna airport later announced another cancellation involving Air India Express flight IX1586/1587 on the Delhi–Patna–Delhi route. The flight scheduled for November 8, which falls on Diwali, has also been cancelled for operational reasons, according to the airline.
The airport shared the cancellation information through its official X account and advised affected passengers to contact Air India Express executives for flight-related information and assistance. The advisory did not provide details of alternative services or a revised arrangement for the cancelled flights.
The disruption comes as passengers are already facing difficulty securing railway tickets for the festive season. Airfares on several Patna-bound routes have also remained high, leaving travellers with limited alternatives when flights are cancelled at short notice.
One passenger who booked a Bengaluru–Patna round trip around a month in advance said the journey had already cost approximately Rs 20,000. The passenger said that one-way fares had subsequently crossed almost Rs 25,000 and reached as high as Rs 31,000 on some days, while trains were full.
Another passenger, Satyam Kumar, said he received information about the cancellation on November 1 and was exploring alternative ways to reach Patna. Pushp Ranjan, who said he had booked a Bengaluru–Patna flight for November 6, wrote on X that his booking continued to appear as confirmed on Yatra even after airline customer support verbally informed him that the flight had been cancelled.
The conflicting status reported by the passenger highlights the immediate information challenge faced by travellers during a high-demand period. Passengers with bookings on the affected routes have been advised to contact Air India Express directly for confirmation and assistance.
With the festive rush expected to intensify, travellers are monitoring airline schedules and advisories for further changes. The cancellations currently identified by Patna airport cover the Bengaluru route from November 1 to 15 and the Delhi route on November 8.
