The largest industrial town of Punjab?Ludhiana may get its much awaited air link to New Delhi as Alliance Air, a sister concern of Air India proposes to run one flight from the Sahnewal airport.
A team of officials from Alliance Air has completed the inspection of the airport for viability of a flight and it is expected to submit the survey report soon. Industrialists of the town have been demanding an air link from a long time. Earlier, Kingfisher Airlines had also announced a New Delhi-Ludhiana flight, which had failed to take off.
Official sources in the civil aviation department, Punjab told FE, ?If all goes well then the proposed flight should take off in May as required infrastructure is in place. After getting permission for upgrading of the domestic airport, night landing facilities will be commissioned at the airstrip shortly. The state government has also proposed to provide additional seven acre to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) here at isolation bay for aircraft perceived to have security issues will be constructed. Besides, navigation facilities will be added, which will integrate the airport by distance-measuring equipment at very high frequency omni range. It helps the pilot to take correct angle while in space?.
Ludhiana airport is spread over 120 acre and the terminal has the capacity to handle arrival and departure of two commercial flights besides small aircrafts daily.
Sources also informed that Ludhiana flying club is also expected to get operational as it is expected to get the final nod from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shortly.
The state government has already appointed a chief flying instructor for the club. This flying club will have two aircrafts including Cessna 152 and Pushpak. Apart from this, to handle the increasing traffic of Bathinda, which accommodates HPCL-Mittal Petro Chemical hub and refinery, domestic flights from the airport situated at Bhisiana will be commenced from June 2010.
?Defence authorities have also approved operation of domestic flights from here. The work on upgrading of tarmac, taxiway and civil lounge building has already begun?, sources said.