Asian Aviation’s ‘Airline News in Brief’ column of 5 April confirms that Air India will become the first carrier to launch daily service between Delhi and Halwara from 15 May, using Airbus A320 aircraft. Halwara – best known as an Indian Air Force base – is being developed into a civil enclave serving Ludhiana’s fast-growing manufacturing corridor. For multinationals in textiles, bicycle parts and auto-components, the new flight cuts surface travel from Delhi by five hours and eliminates a road transfer from Chandigarh. State officials say the civilian terminal will handle 200,000 passengers a year in phase one and includes a bonded warehouse that can process import-export consignments under a single-window customs scheme. Punjab’s government has offered a three-year exemption from state aviation fuel tax, making the route commercially viable for Air India. The carrier is already promoting same-day connections to Bengaluru, Mumbai and Dubai, positioning Halwara as a plug-in to global supply chains. Travel managers should note that Halwara’s slot availability is restricted to daylight hours due to military flying schedules. Early indications show a 06:45 Delhi departure and a 09:15 return – convenient for same-day factory visits.
Source: Asian Aviation
