Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
MP Satnam Singh Sandhu demands ‘Point of Call’ designation for Chandigarh International Airport to increase number of flights to global destinations
Union Govt Will Examine The Air Traffic From Chandigarh International Airport For Giving it “Point of Call’ Designation, says Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu
Punjabis Have to Spend 11 to 12 Hours Extra to Catch International Flights from Delhi, says MP Satnam Singh Sandhu Demanding More International Flights from Chandigarh Airport
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, March 16, 2026-- Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu today in Parliament raised the issue 11 to 12 hours time spent by Punjabis for catching an international flight from Delhi due to absence of ‘Point of Call’ designation for the Chandigarh International Airport from where only two international flights are operated to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Responding to a question asked by MP Satnam Singh Sandhu in Rajya Sabha during the on-going Budget Session, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said the government will examine the traffic generated by the Chandigarh International Airport for designating the airport as ‘Point of Call’ which is a pre-requisite for International Airlines to operate from a particular airport to global destinations.
He said while designating airports in India as ‘Point of Call’ for international flights, the Union government is encouraging Indian Carriers to secure advantage of international passenger traffic and ensuring airports at India’s metropolitan cities become international aviation hubs.
Raising this issue during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, MP Sandhu said, “Traveling from Punjab to Delhi takes seven to eight hours, followed by the requirement to arrive at the airport three hours prior to departure. Consequently, Punjabis end up catching their international flights only after a total waiting period of 11 to 12 hours. Demanding introduction of additional international flights from Chandigarh,”.
MP Sandhu said Chandigarh Airport is currently operating at only 60% of its capacity due to its exclusion from the ‘Point of Call’ list because of which international flights do not land there. “It would be of immense convenience to the people of Punjab. When can we expect Chandigarh Airport to be included in the Point of Call" list?” he asked the Union Minster.
In his reply to MP Sandhu’s question, the Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said, “Multiple airports across various states have been requesting ‘Point of Call’ status to enhance their international connectivity. Chandigarh International Airport already possesses connectivity to Abu Dhabi and Dubai,”.
“Therefore, the designation of a ‘Point of Call’ becomes a requirement primarily when foreign carriers intend to operate flights to our specific airports. If India’s domestic airlines (Indian carriers) wish to fly to any destination across the globe under the framework of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA), they are at liberty to operate from any of our airports provided that the airport is designated as an international airport like Chandigarh Airport,”.
Explaining the rationale behind Bilateral Air Services Agreements, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said. “Our objective to ensure that the primary advantage in this sector is secured by India’s own Indian carriers. It is responsibility of the government to actively encourage Indian carriers to transport international passenger traffic from India using their own aircraft. So for that we are trying to see how best we can facilitate our Indian carriers. Second, we also want our airports in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore to grow as international aviation hubs. But when we give more Points of Call, the foreign carriers come and all the international passengers are taken to their country. They (foreign carriers) offer the transit airport and then from there they send them to other destinations. Why can't we make our cities international aviation hubs? Why can't Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Kolkata become an international hub? So, it is with that idea also we want to encourage our Indian carriers to take more and more passengers. So, while keeping this intact, we have given many Points of Call across the country,” he added.