Ludhiana, April 2: Air India announced on Thursday that it will begin operating four daily flights between Delhi and Halwara airport in Ludhiana starting May 15. The airline stated that this move makes it the first carrier to serve the newly developed Halwara terminal, using its Airbus A320 family aircraft to bridge the gap between Punjab’s industrial hub and the national capital.
The schedule is designed to support both local business needs and global travel. The morning service, flight AI481, is scheduled to leave Delhi at 05:55 hrs and reach Halwara at 07:05 hrs. The return leg, AI482, will depart Halwara at 07:55 hrs, landing in Delhi at 09:10 hrs. A second afternoon rotation follows, with AI483 departing Delhi at 12:55 hrs and returning as AI484 at 14:40 hrs.
“We are expanding access for passengers in Ludhiana and surrounding areas by offering simpler and more seamless international connectivity via Delhi,” stated Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India.
The airline noted that the flight timings are strategically placed to align with long-haul departures to the United Kingdom and Europe. Travelers from the Punjab region will be able to book single-ticket journeys to destinations such as London, Paris, and Milan, with their luggage checked through to the final destination from Halwara.
Industry experts observed that this expansion reflects a broader trend among Indian carriers to focus on industrial and tier-2 cities. Air India maintained that the new route will significantly benefit the export-driven economy of Punjab by providing faster access to global markets.
