State seeks regular overseas services from Patna and Gaya
The Bihar government has invited airlines to submit proposals to launch direct international flights from Patna and Gaya, a move aimed at strengthening overseas connectivity and boosting tourism, business and pilgrimage travel from the state. The fresh tender, floated this month under the state’s New Destination Policy, proposes five routes and includes a limited financial support mechanism to make the services commercially viable during the initial phase.
Airlines have been asked to submit their bids by 3 September, with technical and financial offers to be opened tentatively on 8 September, officials said. The initiative targets regular services from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna and new international links from Gaya Airport, which already handles seasonal overseas flights during Buddhist pilgrimage peaks.
- Proposed routes: Patna–Kathmandu; Gaya–Kathmandu; Gaya–Sharjah; Gaya–Colombo; Gaya–Singapore.
- Bid deadline: 3 September (tender floated this month).
- Evaluation: Technical and financial bids to be opened around 8 September; airlines to be assessed on destination, frequency, aircraft type, seating capacity and VGF sought.
The state civil aviation department will evaluate proposals on multiple operational parameters, including the destination proposed, flight frequency, type of aircraft, seating capacity and the amount of viability gap funding (VGF) requested by bidders. Under the policy, the government has offered VGF support initially for six months, with the possibility of a further six-month extension based on route performance.
"The govt was continuing its efforts to expand international connectivity from both Patna and Gaya," a senior official said.
Officials said the proposed Patna–Kathmandu service would restore a direct air link between Bihar’s capital and Nepal — a route that was operated from Patna until the early 2000s. For Gaya, scheduled services to Kathmandu, Sharjah, Colombo and Singapore are expected to enhance the airport’s role as an international gateway, particularly for Bodh Gaya and the wider Buddhist tourism circuit.
Direct air links to Colombo, Singapore and Kathmandu could considerably ease travel for pilgrims and tourists from key international markets. Gaya already welcomes seasonal international charters and additional scheduled services could convert it into a more reliable hub for inbound Buddhist pilgrims and outbound travellers from Bihar. The proposal also reflects officials’ aim to align airport capacity with tourism promotion and business connectivity.
| Airport | Proposed International Routes |
|---|---|
| Patna (Jay Prakash Narayan International) | Kathmandu |
| Gaya | Kathmandu, Sharjah, Colombo, Singapore |
Policy intent and operational considerations
The New Destination Policy aims to incentivise airlines to operate routes that may not be immediately commercially viable by offering short-term VGF. Officials said the civil aviation department will monitor route performance and decide on extending financial support beyond the initial six-month period depending on passenger uptake and commercial results.
Selection criteria set out in the tender signal an emphasis on operational sustainability: frequency commitments, aircraft type and seating capacity will influence evaluation, as will the size of the VGF requested. The approach mirrors practices used elsewhere to launch new international links from secondary airports that serve niche markets or pilgrimage circuits.
Officials additionally said the state is mindful of external factors that could affect airline operations. "The government is also monitoring the impact of the Middle East crisis on airline operations while proceeding with the selection process," they added, indicating sensitivity to regional geopolitical developments that can disrupt schedules and demand patterns.
For Patna residents and businesses, a restoration of direct overseas links — beginning with Kathmandu — could shorten travel times, reduce transfer costs and open new possibilities for trade and people-to-people exchange. For the tourism ecosystem around Bodh Gaya, regular services to destinations such as Colombo and Singapore would lower friction for foreign pilgrims and could help extend the season for local hospitality and transportation providers.
Airlines interested in the routes will now prepare technical and commercial proposals ahead of the September deadlines. The state’s next steps and the outcome of bid evaluations will determine whether the proposed services move from plan to schedule in the coming months.
