Flights to Dubai May Start in December 2013

October 10, 2013 (Airportchandigarh.com): Punjab’s CM Badal’s persistence in getting international flights operational at the local Chandigarh Airport has finally paid off. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has given permission to Indigo and Spicejet to operate international flights while Jet Airways is still waiting for the approval.

However, we don’t know yet if Ministry of Defence has also provided their clearance. The media reports are providing the information that the international flights should start by December 2013 or early next year to Dubai and the Gulf.

This is about the same time when thick fog engulfs Chandigarh Airport and many flights get cancelled almost daily. This means that the passengers may have to be cautious before deciding to book their international flights from Chandigarh Airport. Currently night landing permission is not available to Chandigarh Airport and it is highly likely that the flights will continue operating during the day only until the permission is obtained.

Direct flights from Chandigarh to Dubai will open up doors to international travel from Chandigarh to other European cities, U.S.A, Canada and the rest of the world via Dubai.

Let’s take a quick look at the world map below that displays B (Dubai) and A (Chandigarh).

You can catch any international flight to or from Dubai and then take a direct flight to Chandigarh and avoid a road trip from Delhi to Chandigarh after the flights to Dubai start to operate from the airport.

However, based on our past experiences, there is always some snag that comes up whenever things are finalised for international flights at the airport. Let’s hope this time things go well.

International Airport at Mohali

According to the most recent update, the new international airport coming up at Mohali is to be ready in 18 months which is March 2015. This was mentioned by Punjab’s Dy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal some days back. Haryana and Punjab both have a share of 24.5% each in the airport while the rest belongs to AAI (Airport Authority of India). The airport is being constructed at Jheourheri village in Punjab (Mohali area) and will share the runway with the existing Chandigarh Airport. Punjab and Haryana have both been disputing over naming the airport, but so far have not agreed to a name that is approved by both of them. Most recently Punjab proposed the name: Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport Chandigarh at Mohali, which is still under consideration by Haryana.