Indigo and Spicejet starting international flights Chandigarh to Dubai in December
Sep 23, 2013, 12:39 pm
#1
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Indigo and Spicejet starting international flights Chandigarh to Dubai in December
DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Union Civil Aviation ministry has finally approved operations of international flights from Chandigarh airport.
To begin with, two private airlines, Indigo and SpiceJet, have been given the go-ahead. Another private airline, Jet Airways, is still awaiting clearance. Initially, all three private airlines are expected to operate flights between Chandigarh and Dubai and other Gulf countries, which will prove to be a boon to residents of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh besides foreign tourists, who till now have to travel to Delhi or Amritsar to catch international flights.
The airlines were given clearance on September 6 and they are likely to start operations in three months time. SpiceJet and Indigo will operate direct flights between Chandigarh and Dubai, while Jet Airways has sought permission for direct flights between Chandigarh Abu Dhabi. The airlines are yet to work out the air fare, timings and flight schedules.
The international airport building at Chandigarh-Mohali is expected to be completed by March next year. Before that, international flights will be operated from existing Chandigarh airport terminal.
It may be mentioned here that the issue of operating international flights from Chandigarh has been hanging fire since 2009. Jet Airways was allowed to operate flights to Dubai, but these could not take off as the existing terminal and runway did not support night landing of airplanes.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/punjab...e-months/86977
To begin with, two private airlines, Indigo and SpiceJet, have been given the go-ahead. Another private airline, Jet Airways, is still awaiting clearance. Initially, all three private airlines are expected to operate flights between Chandigarh and Dubai and other Gulf countries, which will prove to be a boon to residents of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh besides foreign tourists, who till now have to travel to Delhi or Amritsar to catch international flights.
The airlines were given clearance on September 6 and they are likely to start operations in three months time. SpiceJet and Indigo will operate direct flights between Chandigarh and Dubai, while Jet Airways has sought permission for direct flights between Chandigarh Abu Dhabi. The airlines are yet to work out the air fare, timings and flight schedules.
The international airport building at Chandigarh-Mohali is expected to be completed by March next year. Before that, international flights will be operated from existing Chandigarh airport terminal.
It may be mentioned here that the issue of operating international flights from Chandigarh has been hanging fire since 2009. Jet Airways was allowed to operate flights to Dubai, but these could not take off as the existing terminal and runway did not support night landing of airplanes.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/punjab...e-months/86977
Oct 2, 2013, 4:44 am
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Would be interesting to see how LCC's do though.
Oct 2, 2013, 5:45 am
#6
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It is a long drive but a lot of airlines have tried and failed in the Punjab market. Truth is that Punjabi's are used to the long distances and prefer to fly via Delhi for some reason. Maybe they can touch base with family or do work enroute?
Would be interesting to see how LCC's do though.
Would be interesting to see how LCC's do though.
Oct 3, 2013, 11:21 am
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Yes. A huge percentage of travelers that fly into Delhi to go Punjab, Himachel, and parts of Haryana near Chandigarh. So now they will be able to bypass Delhi altogether. Chandigarh is much more central location in comparison to Amritsar.
Oct 3, 2013, 3:24 pm
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I hope it does well. Punjab being such a rich state lacks good international flights.
Oct 3, 2013, 3:30 pm
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Part of this is self inflicted with high taxes at Amritsar airport. But the real reason that international flights have been blocked for so long at Chandigarh is because Delhi airport's owners. They know what would happen if people could go directly to Chandigarh instead. Nobody likes wasting 1 day in Delhi when arriving and another when going back. It's waste of time and money. But looks like some common sense finally won the day.
Oct 3, 2013, 4:12 pm
#11
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Part of this is self inflicted with high taxes at Amritsar airport. But the real reason that international flights have been blocked for so long at Chandigarh is because Delhi airport's owners. They know what would happen if people could go directly to Chandigarh instead. Nobody likes wasting 1 day in Delhi when arriving and another when going back. It's waste of time and money. But looks like some common sense finally won the day.
Oct 10, 2013, 2:20 pm
#12
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Whilst this discussion goes on, Spice have started (or soon will start) PNQ-SHJ, PNQ-BKK, BLR-BKK, LKO-RUH, COK-DMM, IXM-DXB.
That's in addition to the likes of AMD-MCT, DEL-KBL, VNS-SHJ, DEL-CAN etc.
I won't be flying them anytime soon and I don't know how successful they are with this approach, but I do like it. Trying out new and unorthodox city pairs instead of playing the BOM/DEL-BKK/DXB game like everyone else.
That's in addition to the likes of AMD-MCT, DEL-KBL, VNS-SHJ, DEL-CAN etc.
I won't be flying them anytime soon and I don't know how successful they are with this approach, but I do like it. Trying out new and unorthodox city pairs instead of playing the BOM/DEL-BKK/DXB game like everyone else.
Oct 14, 2013, 4:31 pm
#13
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O&D to DXB, or codeshare to Europe/NA
O&D to DXD will be very successful given the pax amount from the tri-state area itself. Services to rest of cities will require codeshare and thru checkin on Europe & NA. This could be a prefect example of Jet-Etihad partnership working as Jet can put a 737 on the route and pretty much fill Y and some of J everyday on their west bound flights. My next family trip might involve getting on Etihad from LAX and then on IXC via 9W, that would save me at least 6-8 hrs of total door to door travel time. The reason past attempts at ATQ have failed is the same reason why limited non stop international service exists from AMD, except gulf countries off coarse. Punjabis are similar to Gujratis in one respect, they hate spending $6k for something that they can pretty much get the same end result by spending $1k, traveling in Y in this case. With no demand from sectors like IT, any long haul to Europe is doomed.