Connecting flights to global destinations on the cards

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

The Punjab and Haryana High Court was told today that several new flights from Chandigarh to Delhi, Mumbai and the Middle East were on the cards. The flights to Mumbai would further connect to international destinations such as London, Manchester, Paris and Amsterdam. 

The airport was also expected to be made functional round the clock next year with availability of additional manpower in February next. The CAT II instrument landing system would also be available by March 31 along with night operations.

As the case on making the Chandigarh international airport fully operational came up for resumed hearing, a report by the amicus curiae or the friend of the court, ML Sarin, based on a high-powered meeting, was placed before the Bench.

Landing system

Senior advocate Sarin told the Bench that it transpired during the meeting that the CAT I instrument landing system would be available from December 19. It would mean availability of 9,000 ft of runway length.

Sarin submitted that he was told during the meeting that the work on further extending the runway was going on in full swing and it would be available by the end of February 2019. Sarin added that he was told that everything was going in accordance with the schedule submitted before the High Court. 

Sarin also quoted Chandigarh International Airport Ltd (CHIAL)  CEO Suneel Dutt as saying that they would receive additional manpower from the CISF by February 2019 to enable 24-hour operation.

Check-in counters

Sarin added that CHIAL was planning to increase the check-in counters from 24 to 36. They were in the process of starting four check-in kiosks for self check-in at the airport. He also added that they were planning to start the e-lobby facility for complete banking solutions for passengers. Sarin said it was also told during the meeting that Chandigarh could be considered for being used as a diversion airport for flights to other destinations, but only during operational hours. 

International operations and air ambulance hub 

Responding to a query, Jet Airways said it would consider international operations from Chandigarh after installation of Cat III. Sarin said Dutt also stated during the meeting that they would work on the proposal for making the Chandigarh airport an international ambulance hub as the tricity had a large number of referral hospitals such  as the PGI.

Airlines’ take on flights 

Representatives of Jet Airways informed Sarin that the summer schedule had already been fixed and they were planning to start three new flights from Chandigarh to Delhi and Mumbai. The Chandigarh to Mumbai flight would further connect to international destinations.

It was also pointed out to Sarin that Jet Airways had a code-share agreement with 18 other airlines.

A representative of Indian Airlines informed Sarin that at present they were planning only expansion of domestic flights. Vistara, meanwhile, told Sarin they were planning to start new flights between Chandigarh and New Delhi in the summer schedule, but they were not having the requisite permissions to operate on the international sector.

GoAir informed Sarin that they were planning to start operations from Chandigarh to the Middle East, but the exact details were not shared. IndiGo informed Sarin they were planning to start flights from Chandigarh to Pune and Guwahati. As such, after the re-initiation of the Dubai flight, they did not have plans to operate any other flight on the international circuit from Chandigarh.