Patna airport to start customs and immigration facilities for international passengers by January 2027

Passengers travelling abroad from Patna may soon be able to complete customs and immigration formalities at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, instead of carrying out these procedures at major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai.

Initial construction work for the facilities has begun, with the main work scheduled to start in November 2026. Airport officials expect the work to be completed within two months, with the counters likely to become operational by December 2026 or January 2027, subject to the necessary approvals and operational readiness.

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The customs and immigration counters will be set up at Gates 12 and 12-A in the departure area. The tender process has been completed, and the work has been assigned to the concerned agency. Preparations are also underway to modify the existing infrastructure and develop the areas required for passenger processing.

Officials of the civil aviation department said the target was to start both counters by December this year or January next year. "Once operational, passengers travelling internationally through connecting flights from Patna will be able to complete customs and immigration formalities at the city airport itself. The facility is expected to benefit passengers who currently have to fly to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai and other airports before boarding their international flights," the officials said.

Hub-and-spoke model for international travel

The facilities will operate under a hub-and-spoke model, in which passengers complete international travel formalities at Patna before connecting through a major aviation hub.

The arrangement is expected to reduce the time and inconvenience involved in international journeys for passengers departing from Bihar. However, the proposed launch remains dependent on the completion of the work, the required approvals and operational readiness.

Once the facilities become operational, passengers using eligible connecting international services will have the option of completing these formalities at Patna rather than waiting until they reach a larger airport.

How the new facilities will help passengers

At present, passengers travelling overseas from Patna generally take connecting flights to major international airports, where they complete immigration and customs procedures before boarding their onward flights. Depending on the connection, this can involve terminal changes, additional security checks and baggage handling, increasing the time and effort required to complete the journey.

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Under the proposed arrangement, passengers will also be able to check in their baggage at Patna. Their luggage will be transferred to their international destination through the designated hub airport, removing the need to collect and check in their baggage again during the journey, as envisaged under the system.

Separate arrangements will be made for passenger and baggage movement. The airport will have dedicated counter and examination areas, while modifications to the security hold area and sterile corridor will support controlled passenger movement and customs and immigration processing.