LUDHIANA: The long-cherished dream of direct air connectivity for Ludhiana became a reality on Friday morning as the first commercial flight successfully landed at the newly constructed Halwara International Airport.
May 15, 2026, has entered the annals of Punjab’s aviation history. Air India flight AI 481, departing from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, touched down on the Halwara tarmac at 7:05 AM. To mark the momentous occasion, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) accorded the aircraft a ceremonial water cannon salute, while arriving passengers were greeted with the vibrant beats of traditional Punjabi Bhangra and Giddha.
High-Profile Arrivals Mark Inaugural Flight
The maiden flight carried several high-profile dignitaries, including Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, alongside Rajya Sabha MPs Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Rajinder Gupta, accompanied by a senior BJP delegation. The leaders received a grand welcome from airport officials and local supporters.
Following the arrival, the same aircraft transitioned into flight AI 482, departing Halwara for Delhi at 7:55 AM with Minister Bittu and other passengers on board.
Passenger Traffic and Flight Schedules
The launch day saw strong initial passenger engagement across Air India’s twice-daily scheduled operations:
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Inbound (Morning – AI 481): Arrived with 71 passengers.
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Outbound (Morning – AI 482): Departed with 99 passengers.
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Inbound (Afternoon – AI 483): 40 passengers scheduled to arrive.
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Outbound (Afternoon – AI 484): 20 passengers scheduled to depart.
The flight duration between Delhi and Halwara is clocked at exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes.
AAI Travel Advisory: Passengers are strictly required to arrive at Halwara Airport at least 90 minutes prior to departure. Terminal gates will close exactly 60 minutes before flight time, after which no entry will be permitted.
Sahnewal Airport Closed; Operations Fully Shifted
With the operationalization of Halwara, the civil aviation landscape in Punjab undergoes a major shift. The older Sahnewal Airport in Ludhiana has officially ceased all commercial operations.
The AAI and Air India have completely relocated their ground staff, technical teams, and equipment from Sahnewal to the advanced Halwara facility. Halwara now stands alongside Amritsar, Mohali/Chandigarh, Adampur, Bathinda, and Pathankot as Punjab’s primary aviation hubs. The airport was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year on February 1.
Political Undertones: AAP Skips Event Amid ED Crackdown Fallout
The historic launch was not without political ripples. Representatives from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) completely distanced themselves from the inaugural event. Despite formal invitations extended by Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain, local AAP MLA Hakam Singh Thekedar and prominent Block President Ramesh Jain were notably absent.
Furthermore, context was added by the absence of AAP Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, who had originally booked tickets for himself and his wife to fly on this maiden flight. Following Arora’s recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), more than 40 of his close associates cancelled their tickets and boycotted the inaugural journey.
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