Chandigarh airport reopening on June 1: Here are the details
After a 20-day closure for runway expansion and repairs, the Chandigarh International Airport is finally all set to reopen on June 1. The new-and-improved airport will operate 37 flights daily, including three international flights. Chandigarh is also set to see better connectivity with new flights connecting it to Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Srinagar. Here's more.
Details of the Chandigarh airport's new schedule
The new schedule, on which 37 flights have been listed, will be applicable from 1st June to 27th October. 31 flights are set to start immediately, while a chopper service from Chandigarh to Shimla is scheduled to start on June 4. The remaining five flights are listed for commencement in July and August.
The complete flight schedule for the Chandigarh airport
Operation times to be extended soon
Following the re-opening, the daily operation time of the airport will be from 7am to 6pm - an extension of 30 minutes compared to previous operation times. However, there will be no flights on Sundays till June-end. From 1st July, flight operations will begin on Sundays too, and the airport will operate from 1pm to 6pm.
The expansion work being carried out costs Rs. 450cr
The Chandigarh airport, which is under the control of the Indian Air Force, had been closed to all air traffic since 12th May, owing to expansion and maintenance work. A few months earlier, in February, the airport had also been shut down for a couple of weeks for expansion and repairs. The expansion work is being carried out at a cost of Rs. 450cr.
The military history of the Chandigarh airport
What is the Chandigarh airport now was established in 1961 as a major air logistics node for Indian troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, and as a frontline air defense facility. With time, the base grew in size and eventually became an IAF-operated commercial airport.
Chandigarh airport looking to expand operations within a year
In less than a year, the Chandigarh airport is expected to be ready for night-time flight operations after all the phases of the present runway expansion work is completed. The expanded 12,400 foot-long runway will be able to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft, thereby allowing airlines to connect the city with major destinations in the US, Europe, and Australia.
