In a significant move to boost regional connectivity, nominated Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu raised a unified demand from Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday. He urged the government to launch direct international flights from Chandigarh International Airport to key global hubs like London, Singapore, and Vancouver.
Currently, the airport operates just two international routes—to Dubai and Abu Dhabi—leaving much of its potential untapped. With an annual capacity of around 7 million passengers, it handles only 3.5 to 4 million travelers yearly. Sandhu highlighted this underutilization, emphasizing how new routes could transform travel for millions in the region.
“Adding these destinations would provide immense convenience to residents of three states,” Sandhu told the Upper House. He called for including Chandigarh in the Point of Call list, enabling both foreign and domestic airlines to operate international services from there. This step, he argued, would not only ease passenger traffic but also spur economic growth.
Sandhu also pressed for more cargo flights from Chandigarh, particularly to support Punjab’s agriculture-based exports. “This will directly benefit our farmers and entrepreneurs,” he noted, requesting the government to consider the proposal sympathetically.
Reflecting on aviation progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sandhu praised the expansion from 74 airports in 2014 to over 163 today. Punjab now boasts two international airports—Chandigarh and Amritsar—plus four domestic ones. He expressed gratitude for recent announcements, including renaming Adampur Airport after Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas and dedicating Halwara Airport to the state.
“We are thankful for these developments, but as the saying goes, the heart wants more,” Sandhu said. “Our region deserves a bigger share of this aviation boom.” The demand underscores the growing aspirations of northern India for world-class air links.