Halwara Takes Flight! Ludhiana’s Historic First Commercial Touchdown

by Parminder Singh Sodhi

AI Generated Summary

  • A long-awaited dream is set to become reality as the first-ever commercial flight touches down at Halwara International Airport tomorrow morning, igniting waves of excitement across Ludhiana and surrounding areas of Punjab.
  • As the aircraft descends tomorrow, it will carry more than passengers — it will usher in new opportunities, pride, and progress for the entire Malwa region.
  • Air India will operate four daily flights (two pairs) between Delhi and Halwara using A320 family aircraft, offering convenient same-day connections and seamless international links via Delhi to destinations like London, Rome, Paris, and more.

A long-awaited dream is set to become reality as the first-ever commercial flight touches down at Halwara International Airport tomorrow morning, igniting waves of excitement across Ludhiana and surrounding areas of Punjab. Air India’s maiden flight AI481 from New Delhi is scheduled to land around 7:05 AM, marking the beginning of scheduled commercial operations at the airport, which was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2026.

This historic milestone ends decades of anticipation for better air connectivity in Punjab’s industrial heartland. Halwara, located about 32 km from Ludhiana, was developed as a civil terminal alongside the existing Indian Air Force base. Air India will operate four daily flights (two pairs) between Delhi and Halwara using A320 family aircraft, offering convenient same-day connections and seamless international links via Delhi to destinations like London, Rome, Paris, and more.

Local enthusiasm is palpable. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain has arranged transport facilities to ensure smooth passenger movement to Ludhiana city. Businesses along the Raikot-Halwara road are rolling out welcome discounts, with cafes offering up to 20% off for ticket-holding passengers. Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney are expected on the inaugural flight. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who championed the project, has played a key role in bringing this to fruition.

For Ludhiana’s business community, traders, and residents, the airport promises faster travel, economic growth, and global connectivity. What was once a 30-year wait has finally materialized, positioning Halwara as Punjab’s third international airport after Amritsar and Chandigarh.

As the aircraft descends tomorrow, it will carry more than passengers — it will usher in new opportunities, pride, and progress for the entire Malwa region. Bookings are now open, and the skies over Ludhiana are brighter than ever.

Parminder Singh Sodhi

You may also like