Himachal Pradesh: IndiGo will launch one more daily flight between Gaggal and Chandigarh from March 30, taking the total to two daily flights on this route. The airline has already uploaded the schedule and started bookings. Additionally, three new flights will connect Gaggal with Jaipur, Noida and Dehradun. Currently, Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet operate six daily flights between Gaggal and destinations such as Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla. With these additional flights, the total number of flights from Gaggal airport will increase to 10 daily. Gaggal airport, the busiest in Himachal Pradesh, currently accommodates 70-seater aircraft on its 1,372-metre runway.
Its terminal can handle 100 passengers and provides parking for two turboprop aircraft such as the ATR-72. With the increase in flights, air fares are expected to come down. Plans are underway to expand the airport, for which land acquisition is likely to be completed by March 31. During his visit to Kangra on January 25, the chief minister announced that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to extend the runway from 1,376 metres to 3,110 metres. This will allow bigger aircraft like Airbus and Boeing to land easily, thereby increasing the tourism potential of Himachal Pradesh. The state government has disbursed over Rs 500 crore as compensation to the affected persons and will collaborate with private firms on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis for the project. The expansion of the airport, spread over 1,269 acres at an altitude of 2,492 feet, is aimed at meeting the growing demand and boost connectivity in the region.
