Now, aircraft maintenance facility available at Patna airport

PATNA: With the commencement of second night flight, the facility of aircraft maintenance was started at the Patna airport on Monday.

Late night flight of IndiGo (6E-239) between Bengaluru and Patna received good response from flyers on its maiden journey on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The flight has a four hours halt at Patna airport. Bengaluru-Patna-Bengaluru flight landed at Patna airport at 12.40am and took off for Bangalore at 4.10am.

Around 148 out of 180 seats had been booked for arrival and 165 for departure. Patna airport director Rajender Singh Lahauria said the aircraft was given welcome water salute by Airports Authority of India (AAI).

“With this new flight, Patna airport commenced night base for airlines. Accordingly, a dump pit for disposal of toilet wastage has been constructed. Provision has also been made for dumping of other wastage like grease and oil among others, which may come out during maintenance,” he said.

“Engineers have also been deputed for the maintenance of the aircraft. Earlier, the airport had no such facility. The aprons will remain illuminated during the night hours,” said Lahauria. Now, 42 pairs of flights operate from Patna airport.

Jet Airways’ 9W-2540 on Pune-Patna-Pune route was the first night flight from the Patna airport. It was flagged off on March 26.

Two more night flights of IndiGo will soon start operation on the Kolkata-Patna-Kolkata and Hyderabad-Patna-Hyderabad routes. A Jet Airways flight (9W-3557) is also likely to begin operations between Patna and Allahabad thrice a week from June 14. The flight will reach Patna at 9.40am and leave for Allahabad at 10.10am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. tnn