Bihar, a state located in the eastern part of India, boasts a growing network of airports that connect the region to the rest of the country and the world. With the increasing demand for air travel and the state’s strategic importance, Bihar has witnessed significant developments in its aviation infrastructure. In this article, we will explore the airports in Bihar, including their names and the state’s pursuit of an international airport. From Darbhanga Airport to Purnia Bihar Airport, let’s delve into the details of how Bihar is taking flight with its airports.
List of Airports in Bihar
Bihar, an Indian state, features a range of airports that serve various purposes, including facilitating international and domestic flights, as well as maintaining non-operational airstrips for emergency situations. The operation of all these airports in Bihar is overseen by the Airports Authority of India. This comprehensive list of Airports in Bihar encompasses domestic, military, and inactive airports, along with their corresponding ICAO and IATA codes.
Sl. no. | Location | Airport name | ICAO | IATA | Operator | Category | Role |
International airports in Bihar | |||||||
1 | Gaya | Gaya Airport | VEGY | GAY | Airports Authority of India | International Airport | Public |
2 | Patna | Jay Prakash Narayan Airport | VEPT | PAT | Airports Authority of India | International Airport | Public |
Domestic/regional airports in Bihar | |||||||
3 | Begusarai | Begusarai Airport | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Domestic Airport | Closed |
4 | Bhagalpur | Bhagalpur Airport | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Domestic Airport | Closed |
5 | Darbhanga | Darbhanga Airport[2] | VE89 | DBR | Airports Authority of India | Domestic Airport | Public |
6 | Munger | Munger Airport | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Domestic Airport | Closed |
7 | Muzaffarpur | Muzaffarpur Airport | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Domestic Airport | Closed |
8 | Saharsa | Saharsa Airport | VEMZ | MZU | Airports Authority of India | Domestic Airport | Closed |
9 | Raxaul | Raxaul Airport | VERL | — | Airports Authority of India | Domestic Airport | Closed |
Military airbases in Bihar | |||||||
10 | Bihta | Bihta Air Force Station | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Defence | Air base |
11 | Purnea | Purnea Airport | VEPU | — | Airports Authority of India | Defence | Air base |
12 | Gopalganj | Sabeya Airport | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Defence | Air base |
Closed airstrips/runways in Bihar | |||||||
13 | Birpur | Birpur Airstrip | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Defence | Airstrip |
14 | Chhapra | Chapra Airstrip | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Defence | Airstrip |
15 | Katihar | Katihar Airstrip | — | — | Airports Authority of India | Defence | Airstrip |
Note: ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes are two distinct systems used in the aviation industry to identify airports and airlines.
Famous Airports in Bihar
Below we have provided details of some of the most talked-about Bihar airports.
Darbhanga Airport
Darbhanga Airport (IATA: DBR, ICAO: VE89) is a domestic airport located in Darbhanga, Bihar, India. It is the first operational airport in the Mithila region of Bihar. The airport has a single runway, 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. It can handle aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
The airport was inaugurated on November 8, 2020, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is currently served by IndiGo and SpiceJet, which offer flights to Delhi, Kolkata, and Patna.
Gaya International Airport
Gaya International Airport (IATA: GAY, ICAO: VEGY) is an international airport located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. It is located about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The airport has a single runway, 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. It can handle aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A330 or Boeing 747.
The airport was inaugurated in 2014. It is currently served by AirAsia India, Air India, Go First, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, which offer flights to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and other domestic cities. It also offers international flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka and Kathmandu, Nepal.
Jogbani Airport
Jogbani Airport (IATA: none, ICAO: none) is a domestic airport under construction in Jogbani, Bihar, India. It is located about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the Nepal border.
The airport will have a single runway, 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. It will be able to handle aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
The airport is expected to be completed by 2024. It will be the first airport in the Araria district of Bihar.
Munger Airport
Munger Airport (IATA: none, ICAO: none) is a domestic airport under construction in Munger, Bihar, India. It is located about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the Munger railway station.
The airport will have a single runway, 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. It will be able to handle aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
The airport is expected to be completed by 2025. It will be the first airport in the Munger district of Bihar.
Muzaffarpur Airport
Muzaffarpur Airport (IATA: MZU, ICAO: VEMZ) is a domestic airport under development in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. It is located about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Muzaffarpur railway station.
The airport will have a single runway, 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. It will be able to handle aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
The airport is expected to be completed by 2024. It will be the first airport in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.
Jayprakash Narayan Airport
Jay Prakash Narayan Airport (IATA: PAT, ICAO: VEPT) is an international airport that serves the city of Patna, the capital of Bihar, India. It is dedicated to the memory of Jayprakash Narayan, a prominent independence activist and political leader.
This airport ranks as the 15th busiest in India. To cater to increasing demand, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is actively engaged in enhancing and modernizing the airport’s infrastructure.
As part of an ambitious expansion project, a new two-level passenger terminal is currently under construction and is expected to be operational by December 2023.
Purnea Airport
Purnea Airport (IATA: PNU, ICAO: VEPU) is a domestic airport located in Purnea, Bihar, India. It is the fourth busiest airport in Bihar.
The airport has a single runway, 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. It can handle aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
The airport was inaugurated in 1954 as an Air Force Station. It was opened to civil traffic in 1979. The airport is currently operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The airport is served by IndiGo and SpiceJet, which offer flights to Delhi, Kolkata, and Patna.
The Government of India is planning to develop Purnea Airport into a major international airport. The expansion project is expected to be completed by 2025.
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