Ludhiana: Air India’s website is now teasing this industrial hub’s residents with the ultimate digital “look but don’t touch” experience. You can see the flight, you can see the ₹6,400 price tag, and you can even see the 80-minute travel time. The only thing you can’t actually do is buy a ticket.Halwara International is about to get very busy with 20 new Air India employees who will have plenty of time to practice their “welcome aboard” speeches to an empty terminal. While the airline has roped in the Airbus A320 for the route, the current booking system is stuck in a holding pattern. If you’re looking to get to Delhi before March 28, you’d better keep your car keys handy — this flight is currently “virtual only”.After years of anticipation, the clouds were finally clearing for air travel in Ludhiana. In a move that has industrialists checking their calendars and their blood pressure, Air India has officially listed Halwara as a destination, officially updating its website to include flight options between Halwara International Airport and Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, signalling that regular commercial operations are imminent—just don’t expect to actually board a plane.The airline has promised a “hassle-free arrival”, which is technically true, as it’s impossible to have travel hassles if you can’t book the flight. Ludhiana’s jet-setters will have to stay grounded for another month of high-speed dreaming. While the “Ludhiana” destination is now live on the booking portal with an economy fare starting at ₹6,400, current searches for specific dates return a “no flights” message, as the airline finalises the logistics for its inaugural takeoff.The new service is set to drastically reduce travel time between the industrial hub and the national capital. The flight will cover the 286-km distance in just 80 minutes, offering both Business and Economy classes. An Airbus A320 will fly up to 180 passengers between Halwara International Airport (LUD) and Delhi (DEL) in this duration, operating from Terminal 1 at both airports.Why the Delay?Despite the website update, airport officials suggest that the “summer schedule” issued by the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) is the key. Flights are unlikely to begin before March 28, when the new schedule comes into force. An Air India team visited Halwara on Feb 13 to inspect office space and terminal facilities. The airline is expected to establish its on-site presence by early March, employing 20-odd staffers, including ground crew of 15 to 16.Proposed Daily ScheduleThe Airport Authority of India (AAI) sources claim that two daily flights are planned. While times may shift slightly with the summer schedule, tentatively the morning service will arrive at Halwara at 7am and depart to Delhi at 7.40am, while the afternoon flight will arrive at 2.35pm and depart at 3.40pm. Local ImpactThe launch follows the airport’s high-profile inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Ludhiana’s industrialists and professionals, the flights represent a long-overdue connection to global markets via Delhi. “It has been a long wait,” said resident Narinder Singh. “This will benefit everyone from students to businessmen who currently rely on the 5-hour road or rail journey.”
