Exploring Punjab's Domestic Airport Network: A Comprehensive Overview

Punjab, a state in India, is known for its rich culture and history. It is home to several airports, which have improved communication and connectivity to the region. When it comes to domestic airports in Punjab, there are seven in total: Patiala Airport, Bathinda Airport, Ludhiana Airport, Pathankot Airport, Beas Airport, Adampur Airport, and Bhatinda Airport. These airports offer efficient and flexible travel options for passengers within the country.

Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, Amritsar

Punjab, India, has three international airports, nine domestic airports, four private airports, and one military base. Here is some detailed information on one of the international airports, Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, Amritsar.

Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport, located about 11 kilometres from the centre of Amritsar, is named after Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city of Amritsar and the fourth Sikh Guru. The airport was established in 1930 during the British era and was used for VVIP movements. After India's independence, it connected with Delhi and Srinagar. The airport's modernisation program, driven by the Airports Authority of India, included the construction of a new integrated terminal building, which was commissioned in February 2009. The terminal blends modern and Indian designs, with glass and steel structures featuring Indian-style arches and colours. It has an area of approximately 40,175 square metres and is equipped with various modern facilities, including jet bridges, check-in counters, immigration and customs counters, security booths, and conveyor belts. The airport has an annual passenger capacity of around 2.5 to 4.5 million.

The airport's single terminal handles both international and domestic operations, serving not only Amritsar but also neighbouring states such as Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. It is the largest and busiest airport in Punjab and the second-largest in Northern India. The airport has been recognised with awards and rankings, including being named the 6th-best regional airport in India and Central Asia in 2019 and 2020 by Skytrax and the best airport in Asia-Pacific in 2020 (2 to 5 million passengers per annum) by Airports Council International.

The airport's runway is 3,658 metres long and 45 metres wide, and it is equipped with CAT III-B ILS, allowing operations in low visibility conditions. The airport is accessible via the four-lane National Highway 354 and public transport options such as cabs, auto rickshaws, and local buses.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh

The Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh International Airport, commonly referred to as the Chandigarh International Airport, is one of India's most prominent airports. Named after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, the airport is located in Jhiurheri, Punjab, and shares its space with the Indian Air Force.

The airport commenced operations on October 19, 2015, and is situated approximately 13 kilometres from Chandigarh, the state capital. It is owned and operated by Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL), a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (51%), the Government of Punjab (24.5%), and the Government of Haryana (24.5%).

The airport has a single terminal that handles both domestic and international flights, offering a range of facilities for travellers' convenience, including free medical services. The terminal covers 53,000 square metres and can accommodate 1,600 passengers at a time, with an annual capacity of 4.5 million passengers. It has five aerobridge bays and eight remote parking stands, with parking available for 150 vehicles. The departures are located on the first floor, while arrivals are on the ground floor.

Chandigarh Airport caters to 17 domestic and two international destinations. It has a single runway, 11/29, which underwent a significant upgrade and repair that was completed in April 2019. The expanded runway is 12,400 feet long, with a take-off length of 10,400 feet, allowing for the operation of wide-bodied aircraft. The airport has been recognised for its excellence, receiving awards for customer satisfaction, hygiene measures, environment and ambience, customer service, and infrastructure.

Patiala Airport, Patiala

Patiala Airport, also known as Patiala Aviation Complex, is a civil aerodrome located in Patiala, Punjab, India. It is approximately 6 kilometres from the city of Patiala and is the second busiest airport in Punjab. The airport was built in the 20th century under the supervision of Maharajadhiraj Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, lending it historical significance.

The airport boasts a fleet of 4 Cessna 172, 2 FA152, 1 Beech 58, and 1 Technam P2006T aircraft operated by the Patiala Air Club. The runway at Patiala Airport is made of asphalt and sits at an altitude of approximately 820 feet above sea level. The runway is 1167 metres long.

In terms of facilities and services, Patiala Airport provides medication facilities to its passengers. The closest major cities/towns/villages within 100km of Patiala are Chandigarh and Yamunanagar in Haryana.

Patiala Airport is one of nine domestic airports in Punjab, with the remaining being Bathinda Airport, Ludhiana Airport, Pathankot Airport, Beas Airport, and several international airports that also serve domestic flights.

Bathinda Airport, Bathinda

Bathinda Airport, located near the village of Virk Kalan in central Punjab, is a domestic airport serving the city of Bathinda and the Malwa region. The airport is situated 16 kilometres (9.9 miles) northwest of the city in Bhisiana and is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as a civil enclave of the Bhisiana Air Force Station.

The airport commenced operations on December 11, 2016, with Alliance Air operating flights between Delhi and Bathinda three times a week. The airport has a single terminal that handles domestic flights with a capacity of 100 passengers and a waiting area that can accommodate 30 people. The terminal features two check-in counters, two conveyor belts, and a 30-seat security hold. Additionally, there is a VIP baggage service area and a parking lot that can accommodate more than 25 cars.

The airport's runway, numbered 13/31, measures 2,804 metres (9,199 feet) in length, and the apron can park two aircraft similar in size to the ATR 72-600. The airport is connected to the city by road, with NH-7 being the nearest highway, and by rail, with the Bulluana railway station located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) south of the airport.

Bathinda, also known as Bhatinda, is one of the oldest cities in Punjab and is nicknamed the 'City of Lakes' due to its artificial lakes. The city boasts a rich history and is home to several notable landmarks, including the Qila Mubarak fort, the gurudwara of Haji Rattan, and the large Rose Garden. It is also a major hub for education and industry, with the Central University of Punjab and various power plants, a fertilizer plant, and an oil refinery.

Ludhiana Airport, Ludhiana

Ludhiana Airport (IATA: LUH, ICAO: VILD) is a domestic airport located near the town of Sahnewal, 12 kilometres southeast of Ludhiana in Punjab, India. It is also known as Sahnewal Airport and is spread over 130 acres of land. The airport terminal building covers 1150 square metres and can handle 70 incoming and 70 outgoing passengers.

The airport is currently used for government flights, air force exercises, and training flights. It previously had a commercial airline, Alliance Air, which connected the airport to Delhi until April 2021, when it was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2023, FlyBig, a low-cost regional carrier, restarted flight operations to Dehradun with a stopover at Ghaziabad. This was made possible by the government's UDAN Scheme.

As the current airport site is too small to accommodate future growth and expansion is not feasible due to surrounding urban development, the Ministry of Civil Aviation decided to construct a new passenger terminal. This new terminal will be built at the existing Indian Air Force base in Halwara, located 34 kilometres southwest of Ludhiana. The new airport will be known as Ludhiana International Airport or Halwara International Airport and is expected to accommodate larger aircraft, such as Boeing 737-700 and Airbus A-320. The construction of this airport began in November 2022, and it is anticipated to boost business growth in the region.

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