Direct air connectivity between Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Dharamsala and the National Capital Region (NCR) has been established with the commencement of commercial operations at the Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar. IndiGo, the first airline to operate from the newly inaugurated airport, launched its services on Monday, marking a significant step in enhancing regional air travel.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the airline’s new routes are expected to substantially improve travel convenience for passengers originating from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Commencing July 1, IndiGo will operate a daily flight connecting Chandigarh to Noida. The morning flight from Chandigarh is scheduled to depart at 7:30 am, arriving in Noida at 8:35 am. The return service from Noida will depart earlier at 6:10 am, reaching Chandigarh by 7:10 am. An additional frequency will be introduced for the Chandigarh-Noida route starting July 13, with flights operating on Mondays and Tuesdays. These flights will depart Noida at 9:55 am, arriving in Chandigarh at 10:55 am, while the return journey from Chandigarh will depart at 12:20 pm and land in Noida at 1:35 pm.
Amritsar will also benefit from daily direct flights to Noida. The flight schedule for Amritsar includes a departure at 11:55 am, with arrival in Noida at 1:20 pm. The return flight from Noida to Amritsar is set to depart at 10:10 am, arriving in Amritsar at 11:25 am. Passengers travelling from Jammu will experience direct connectivity starting June 16. The Noida-Jammu flight is scheduled to depart at 10:05 am, arriving in Jammu at 11:20 am. The return service from Jammu to Noida will depart at 12:10 pm, landing in Noida at 1:30 pm.
Himachal Pradesh, specifically Dharamsala, will also see enhanced air access. A daily flight connecting Dharamsala and Noida will depart at noon, reaching Noida at 1:40 pm. The return flight from Noida to Dharamsala is scheduled to depart at 9:55 am, arriving in Dharamsala at 11:40 am. These new services are anticipated to reduce travel time and provide greater accessibility for residents and visitors in these regions.
The inaugural IndiGo flight touched down at Noida International Airport after originating from Lucknow on Monday morning. The airport’s first departing flight was en route to Bengaluru. With the initiation of these operations, IndiGo plans to connect Noida to over 16 destinations across the country. The airline stated that the newly established network will offer seamless one-stop connections from Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jammu, and Dharamsala to a variety of other cities, including Jodhpur, Bhopal, Jaipur, Bareilly, Kishangarh, and Pantnagar. This strategic expansion is expected to significantly bolster regional air connectivity and streamline travel for a considerable number of passengers in northern India.
Speaking on the development, IndiGo Chief Strategy Officer Aloke Singh commented that the opening of Noida International Airport signifies a new era for India’s aviation landscape, creating novel opportunities for travellers in the Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh regions. Noida International Airport Vice Chairman Christoph Schnellmann added that IndiGo’s launch of operations would immediately provide passengers with enhanced convenience and a broader array of travel choices from the outset.
The Chenab Times News Desk