New Delhi, March 16: The Union Government has announced it will examine air traffic patterns at Chandigarh International Airport to determine if the facility warrants a “Point of Call” designation.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu stated in the Rajya Sabha on Monday that this status is a prerequisite for foreign airlines to operate flights from specific regional airports to global destinations.
The announcement came during the ongoing Budget Session in response to concerns raised by Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu.
The MP noted that the absence of this designation forces travelers from Punjab to endure a 11 to 12-hour ordeal, including travel to Delhi and early check-ins, to access international departures. Currently, Chandigarh only operates flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Read more: MP Sandhu Urges ‘Point of Call’ Status for Chandigarh Airport
Minister Naidu affirmed that the government’s primary strategy is to encourage Indian carriers to secure the advantage of rising international passenger traffic.
“The policy aims to transform metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru into global aviation hubs,” he said.
While foreign carriers often seek more “Points of Call” to ferry passengers to transit hubs abroad, the government prefers to see Indian cities become the primary international gateways, he added.
MP Sandhu asserted that Chandigarh International Airport is currently operating at only 60 percent of its total capacity. He maintained that including the airport in the “Point of Call” list would provide immense convenience to the people of Punjab and neighboring states.
“If India’s domestic airlines wish to fly to any destination across the globe, they are at liberty to operate from any of our international airports, including Chandigarh,” the Minister noted.
He added that the government remains committed to facilitating Indian carriers while considering requests from various states for enhanced international connectivity.
