April 15, 2011: In November 2007, the Airlines Authority of India (AAI) started The ambitious project of constructing a new terminal at Chandigarh Airport. December 2010 was the original completion deadline, but various problems resulted in delays. However, the planned arrival of VVIPs coming to witness the Indo-Pak cricket semifinal at Mohali led to the opening of the new on March 30.
With an estimated cost around Rs 78 crore, the new terminal is equipped with modern top-of-the line amenities and infrastructure, including:
Restaurant: The restaurant, which would include a bar, features several LCD screens displaying information and showing entertainment.
Internet: Wi-fi is enabled throughout the building.
Food court:The food court features an a la carte menu featuring a variety of snacks and beverages
Duty-free shop: A world-class duty-free shop is planned to come up which will sell a wide variety of high-end brands.
No Aerobridge: An aerobridges, which would help passengers to enter the aircraft directly from the lounge, is currently absent at the new building. According to an AAI official, however, aerobridges will come up at the new terminal once operations have finished at the old building and once the entire operations from the existing old building. The old building will be destroyed, creating the necessary space for the aerobridges.
Plans for international flights: There are currently 12 domestic flights operating for various destinations but the new terminal will enable international flights to start operation from the airport. Proposals have recently been made to start weekly or bi-weekly flights servicing Dubai, West Asia, London, Vancouver and European countries.AAI has reportedly written to the Union ministry for providing immigration staff so that the international operations could be launched soon