Chandigarh May Have Air India Flights to Dubai and Bangkok

India's national flag carrier, Air India (AI) recently proposed to start flights to Dubai and Bangkok from Chandigarh. AI officials from Chandigarh conferred a presentation at New Delhi regarding the proposed flights. However, the airline has not received an affirmative nod from Indian Ministry of Defence.

If the proposed flights see the light of the morning, local holiday makers looking for ticket deals on full-service carriers to experience all the luxuries and amenities while heading for a leisurely break will certainly be a happy lot.

Chandigarh AI officials prepared the proposal after a thorough survey was conducted with the Tricity residents. It is expected that the proposed direct flights to India connecting Dubai and Bangkok will get popular with commuters looking for an easy escape to these popular travel destinations.

Though Ministry of Defence is yet to answer the call, the airline is confident of getting approval to start international flights from Chandigarh. However, several airlines have been declined permission to start international flights in the past. Air Arabia, popular low cost carrier offering cheap flights to India, also recently failed to get the consent of the ministry for its proposed flight to Sharjah.

Chandigarh International Airport renovated its new terminal building which opened on 14th April 2011 and also obtained ‘custom airport’ status, which is mandatory to operate international fights. However, the airport has still not been approved to host international flights.

Though presently there is only one AI flight that operates from Chandigarh Airport, Air India has proposed start domestic flight connecting Chandigarh to Mumbai besides international flight to Dubai and Bangkok.

Reference

Chandigarh Airport Awaits International Flights to India

Frustration of the people waiting for Chandigarh Airport to start international flights is at a peak. Even after making many repetitive announcements of international flights starting soon, they are still an unfulfilled dream for Chandigarh Airport.

Indian Ministry of Defence has not granted the permission to the Chandigarh Airport to operate international flights even when the airport has been awarded with the status of 'customs airport' and upgraded its infrastructure.

Chandigarh Airport invested around INR 80 crores (INR 800 million) to modernize its new terminal building which opened on April 14 last year and introduced many other facilities to decoy international airlines to begin their operations from here.

Apart from this, the airport also showed its worth by operating more than 300 flights in 72 hours efficiently, counting international flights to India for those holiday makers who visited the country for the India-Pakistan Cricket World Cup semi-final match at Mohali last year. Yet, it has not been given the clearance to host international flights to India. 

The low-cost international airline Air Arabia showed interest to begin Sharjah-Chandigarh flight, but as the runway and the air traffic control of the Chandigarh airport are managed by the Indian Air Force, the international airlines are obliged to take consent from the ministry of defence. Certainly, a great loss for budget travellers seeking tickets on cheap flights to India!

The Director of Chandigarh airport Captain H S Toor says that even through Chandigarh airport satisfies all the conditions required for international operations, ministry of defence has still not passed its appeal to operate international flights for six months.

Reference