Airlines to start operations at Ludhiana airport from June

Flights from Sahnewal airport here under the regional connectivity scheme will start from the next month, local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu said today.

He said that the Punjab government will help the airlines under the scheme, also known as Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN).

"The state government and the Centre will provide financial aid to the airlines if they suffer loss," the parliamentarian said.

Industrial potential of Ludhiana has suffered due to lack of regular air connectivity, he said.

"Despite structural bottleneck of short length of the air strip, the scheme will ensure regular and reliable air connectivity," he said.

Increasing the length of the air strip is also being considered to help make optimal use of the Ludhiana airport, he said.

The Ludhiana airport will first handle flights to Delhi and thereafter to Mumbai and other important cities, he said.

Alliance Air would start flights to Ludhiana from June and Deccan Charters will also launch service in August, he said.

Ever since the launch of the UDAN scheme, that seeks to make flying more affordable, Ludhiana being one of the top industrial destination remained under-utilised despite having aviation infrastructure at Sahnewal airport, he said.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)