Punjab’s long-delayed Halwara Airport cleared a major hurdle on 31 January 2026 when Air India received final Indian Air Force (IAF) clearance to operate civilian flights from the dual-use base. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the passenger terminal on 1 February, with commercial services slated to launch in March.
Initially limited to five weekly departures to Mumbai and Delhi, stakeholders ultimately want Halwara to handle narrow-body international services that Ludhiana’s exporters have demanded for years. The manufacturing city currently relies on a three-hour road transfer to Chandigarh for global connections, inflating supply-chain costs.
![Halwara Airport Secures Air-Force Clearance; International-Ready Terminal Inauguration Set for 1 February]()
The ₹500-crore project—revived in 2022 after years of funding delays—includes a 3,150-metre runway capable of handling A321s and B737s, Customs and Immigration counters, and dedicated cargo bays. Punjab’s government estimates the airport could cut door-to-door transit time to Europe by a full day for Ludhiana’s textile exporters.
Logistics firms are eyeing new air-freight corridors, while relocation managers see an uptick in expatriate interest as living outside Delhi becomes viable. However, airlines caution that international rights will depend on bilateral seat entitlements and the airport securing Schedule ‘F’ notification from the Home Ministry.
Initially limited to five weekly departures to Mumbai and Delhi, stakeholders ultimately want Halwara to handle narrow-body international services that Ludhiana’s exporters have demanded for years. The manufacturing city currently relies on a three-hour road transfer to Chandigarh for global connections, inflating supply-chain costs.
The ₹500-crore project—revived in 2022 after years of funding delays—includes a 3,150-metre runway capable of handling A321s and B737s, Customs and Immigration counters, and dedicated cargo bays. Punjab’s government estimates the airport could cut door-to-door transit time to Europe by a full day for Ludhiana’s textile exporters.
Logistics firms are eyeing new air-freight corridors, while relocation managers see an uptick in expatriate interest as living outside Delhi becomes viable. However, airlines caution that international rights will depend on bilateral seat entitlements and the airport securing Schedule ‘F’ notification from the Home Ministry.
Source: The Times of India
