Krish Aarush · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
Air India Express has cancelled its Delhi to Patna and Patna to Delhi flights from September 24 through September 30, 2026, grounding services IX1346 and IX1348 for seven days for operational reasons.
The airline communicated the cancellation to Patna Airport authorities, and the ANI news agency reported on September 22 that the airline confirmed the week long halt on the Delhi Patna Delhi route. Patna Press reports that both directions of the route stay cancelled through September 30, while ANI, via LatestLY, confirms the airline itself announced the operational reason halt.
Flight delayed or cancelled? AirHelp can check whether your trip may qualify for compensation. Check a flight with AirHelp Disclosure: Deep Arrival may earn a commission.
If you hold a ticket between Delhi and Patna for September 28, 29 or 30, assume your flight will not operate and contact Air India Express about rebooking before you leave for the airport. Travellers stuck with extra hours in the capital can use the time productively with this guide to where to eat in Delhi by district and service style, which helps you plan around a rebooked departure.
The halt sits inside a rough week for domestic Indian schedules. IndiGo cancelled 24 Ranchi flights on September 25, so passengers rebooking across carriers should check every segment of a new itinerary, not just the Air India Express leg. The airline has not published details of alternative flights, rescheduling or refunds in the material shared with Patna Airport authorities, so treat any rebooking as a fresh request rather than an automatic transfer.
- Cancelled: Air India Express IX1346 (Delhi to Patna) and IX1348 (Patna to Delhi), September 24 to September 30, 2026.
- Reason stated: Operational reasons, confirmed by the airline on September 22, with no specific cause disclosed publicly.
- Authority told: Patna Airport authorities received the cancellation notice directly from the Air India Express team.
- Earlier halt: IX1348 was also cancelled on September 21 and 22, ahead of the seven day window.
- Passenger action: Check flight status before travelling to the airport and contact the airline about booking options.
Seven Day Halt on the Delhi Patna Route
The cancelled pair covers the Air India Express rotation linking the national capital with Patna across the seven day window. IX1346 operates Delhi to Patna and IX1348 returns Patna to Delhi, and both flight numbers stay out of service from September 24 through September 30. Passengers booked on any date inside that span need a different flight, because neither direction will operate on the published schedule.
The timing matters for travellers still inside the window. With the halt running through September 30, departures on September 28, 29 and 30 remain affected at the time of publication. Anyone booked on those dates should rebook now rather than wait for a last minute update, since the airline has published no notice shortening the cancellation period.
What Patna Airport Was Told
Patna Airport authorities received the cancellation information directly from the Air India Express team, according to both reporting outlets. The notice covered the full Delhi Patna Delhi operation for the specified period but contained no further detail on the operational issue behind the decision. Airport officials relayed the passenger guidance to check status before travelling.
The September 21 and 22 cancellation of IX1348 points to trouble predating the formal seven day notice. That flight had been scheduled to leave Patna at 7:15 in the morning on both days before its cancellation, also attributed to operational reasons. The September 21 and 22 cancellation shows the disruption predates the formal seven day notice, although the airline has not explained the cause publicly.
No Public Reason for the Operational Halt
Operational reasons can cover crew scheduling, aircraft availability, maintenance planning or network adjustments, but none of those specifics appears in the material the airline shared. As of September 22, the airline had provided no public breakdown of the cause and no detail on alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers. Further updates on passenger handling remain awaited.
Travellers should therefore avoid assuming a cause or a fix date beyond September 30. The published record supports exactly one dated fact set: two flight numbers, one city pair, seven cancelled days, and advice to verify status. Anything beyond that, including rumours about fleet or staffing causes, stays unconfirmed unless the airline publishes it.
Planning another trip? Review Travel Guard plan terms for delays, cancellations, and baggage before choosing coverage. Review Travel Guard plans Disclosure: Deep Arrival may earn a commission.
How to Handle a Cancelled Booking
Start with the airline, not the airport. Air India Express holds your booking record, so contact the carrier through its booking channels to ask about moving to another date, switching to a different flight on the same route, or claiming whatever refund or credit the fare rules allow. Have your booking reference and travel dates ready before you call, since the cancellation window covers a full week of bookings.
Then verify before you travel. Check the latest flight status on the day of departure even if you already rebooked, because schedules around a multi day operational halt can shift again. Arrive with a confirmed seat on a confirmed flight, and keep screenshots of every status message and rebooking confirmation until you have completed the trip.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hold an IX1346 or IX1348 ticket for September 28 to 30 | Contact Air India Express now to rebook; do not go to the airport on the old ticket. |
| Must reach Patna on a fixed date | Book an alternative carrier or date immediately, then pursue the original booking separately. |
| Already rebooked onto a new flight | Recheck status on departure day; multi day halts can move surrounding schedules. |
| Plan Delhi Patna travel from October 1 | Confirm the airline has resumed normal scheduling before you commit to nonrefundable plans. |
September 30 is the last published cancelled date. Treat every IX1346 and IX1348 departure up to and including that day as not operating.
September 22 is the notice date. All confirmed facts in this story trace to the airline notice and reporting from that day; later changes would need a fresh airline statement.
October 1 is unconfirmed. Normal service after the window is the reasonable expectation but not a published fact, so verify October bookings directly.
Is my Air India Express Delhi Patna flight cancelled this week?
If your flight number is IX1346 or IX1348 and your travel date falls between September 24 and September 30, 2026, yes, the airline cancelled it for operational reasons. Contact Air India Express to rebook.
Why did Air India Express cancel the Delhi Patna flights?
The airline cited operational reasons when it informed Patna Airport authorities on September 22. It has not publicly disclosed the specific cause behind the seven day halt.
Can I get a refund or an alternative flight?
The airline had shared no detail on alternative flights, rescheduling or refunds with airport authorities as of September 22. Ask the airline directly about your fare options, since only the carrier can change your booking.
Will Delhi Patna flights operate normally from October 1?
The published cancellation covers September 24 through September 30 only, but the airline has not issued a separate resumption notice. Check your flight status before travelling on or after October 1.
