Chandigarh: Air India Express is restoring the city’s direct link to Sharjah from Monday after three years as part of an expanded winter schedule that includes new domestic services to Goa and Bengaluru.The carrier will operate non-stop flights four days a week — Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays — from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.Under the winter schedule running through March 28, 2027, Flight IX-453 will depart Chandigarh at 1.50pm and land in Sharjah at 4.50pm. The return service, Flight IX-454, will leave Sharjah at 5.50pm and reach Chandigarh at 11.05pm. One-way fares start at about ₹17,000.The service provides direct access to the United Arab Emirates for passengers from Punjab, Haryana, and the Tricity area, easing travel for expatriates, business operators, and tourists who previously relied on connecting flights.The restored route gives Chandigarh three direct international destinations. IndiGo already operates direct routes from the airport to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.Domestic carrier Akasa Air will also make its debut at Chandigarh airport on Dec 1, launching new daily services to Goa and Bengaluru under the Airports Authority of India winter schedule.While local services are expanding, major carriers — including Air India Group, IndiGo, and Akasa Air—have suspended select routes to Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East due to regional security concerns.Passengers are advised to verify flight statuses before travelling to the airport. Air India Group has opened helpline numbers to assist affected passengers with rebooking and refunds. Direct routes between Chandigarh and both Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain operational.
