The industrial city of Ludhiana in Punjab has now been connected to India’s commercial aviation network with the arrival of the first Air India flight at Halwara Airport early this morning. The development has brought cheer among industrialists and residents, fulfilling a long-pending demand of nearly three decades.
Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, who travelled on the inaugural flight from Delhi to Ludhiana along with Members of Parliament Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Rajinder Gupta, termed the operationalisation of the airport a major boost for industry, trade and economic growth in the region.
Air India has scheduled daily services connecting Ludhiana with Delhi, enabling same-day and onwards international connectivity to destinations in the United Kingdom and Europe, including Rome, Milan and Paris.
According to the flight schedule, Air India flight AI-481 departs Delhi at 5:55 AM and reaches Halwara at 7:05 AM. The return flight AI-482 leaves Halwara at 7:55 AM and arrives in Delhi at 9:10 AM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the terminal building of Halwara Airport on the first of February this year.
