Chandigarh airport not ready for international flights yet

Punjab & Haryana HC directs completion of customs and immigation facilities by 25 April

Chandigarh international airport will have to complete its customs and immigration facilities for the international travellers by April 25.

Sources at the airport informed that Punjab and Haryana High Court today gave directions to the customs and immigration department to complete all arrangements required for the international travel from Chandigarh airport.

A PIL has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to look into the delay in international flights from Chandigarh airport that was inaugurated in September last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The court today gave directions during the hearing.

The Chandigarh airport has got confirmation from domestic carriers Indigo and Air India to start direct international flights to Dubai.

Air India has proposed for a combo flight. The passengers of a combo flight would get customs and immigration done at Chandigarh, flown to New Delhi in a domestic flight and transferred to international flight at New Delhi airport. AirAsia, flydubai, Thai Air and Qatar Airways are among the international carriers having discussions to commence direct flights on international routes from Chandigarh airport.

After the bi-lateral agreements between two countries, the international carriers can kick start their operations from Chandigarh, told the official. He did not provide details of how much time will it take for international carriers to set foot in Chandigarh.

The airport currently caters to 4.5 million passengers per annum and is utilizing 33% of its capacity. The annual maintenance cost of the newly built airport is over Rs 70 crore. According to estimates, about 40% of the international passenger traffic at Delhi airport can be handled at Chandigarh airport.

Punjabi diaspora spread across the world, the business community in Punjab and the tourists travelling to Dubai constitute majority of foreign travellers from Chandigarh.