New air services connecting Dharamsala’s Gaggal Airport to Noida, Jaipur, and Dehradun will start from March 30, addressing the increasing number of tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh. Currently, the airport’s flight network links Dharamsala with Delhi, Chandigarh, and Shimla.
Among the three new destinations, the Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar is expected to commence operations by April 2025. “We are expanding our operations to meet passenger demand and will operate in two shifts from March 30, enabling uninterrupted flights from sunrise to sunset,” said Gaggal Airport director Dhirendra Singh.
Gaggal Airport manages six flights daily
The airport currently manages six daily flights, which are projected to increase to 10 during the summer. To support evening services, measures are being taken to boost staffing levels and enhance security in collaboration with state police. Singh also revealed plans for the airport’s expansion to accommodate larger aircraft, such as Airbus 320 and Boeing models.
The upgrades aim to establish connections with metro cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, potentially lowering travel costs for passengers. Additionally, there has been a long-standing demand to link the airport with Amritsar and Buddhist pilgrimage sites like Bodh Gaya in Bihar.
Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, based in McLeodganj near Dharamsala, has also advocated for connecting Gaggal Airport to other Buddhist destinations.