Resumption of flights from Sahnewal: Persuasion and Success

Ludhiana, September 7, 2023: The flights from Hindon-Ludhiana-Hindon began on Wednesday. Hardly anyone knows that eight letters have played a key role in resumption of these flights from Wednesday onwards. Here is the date-wise some portion of text of these letters, which speaks itself:       

8th September, 2022: MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora wrote to Minister of Civil Aviation mentioning that, “There was a daily flight to Ludhiana before Covid, operated by Alliance Air. Now normal Air operations have started Nation-wide but there is no flight operational to the city which is abuzz with industry and contributes a lot to Nation's economy. Request you to please get started the said flight or ask some private airline to do the same from existing Sahnewal Airport till the time Halwara Airport is operational. Industry and people in general are facing a lot of problems on account of there being no flight to and from Ludhiana. The earliest action in this matter will be highly appreciated.”

16th September, 2022: Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia wrote to Arora mentioning that “Under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), routes connecting Delhi and Ludhiana were awarded in the first round of bidding. M/s Alliance Air commenced operations on 01.09.2017 and discontinued them on 31.08.2020 after completion of three years of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support and due to commercial reasons. Further, kindly note that "Hindon-Ludhiana-Hindon" routes have been considered for bidding under UDAN 4.2 for which bids have been received and are currently under evaluation. Further, with the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March, 1994, the Indian domestic aviation was deregulated. It is, therefore, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability subject to compliance with the extant guidelines in this regard. However, your request has been shared with all scheduled domestic airlines for favourable consideration.”

27th December, 2022: Arora wrote to Minister of Civil Aviation mentioning that “I would request you to kindly direct the concerned officials to recapitulate Alliance Air and other private carriers for resumption of flights to Ludhiana at the earliest.”

17th January, 2022: Arora wrote to Minister of Civil Aviation mentioning that “I along with commoners of Ludhiana sincerely request you to kindly intervene and direct the concerned officials to chalk out a plan and resume flights to Ludhiana under UDAN Scheme at the earliest.”

27 January, 2023: Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia wrote to Arora mentioning that, “Please refer to your letter dated 17.01.2023 regarding resumption of flight from Ludhiana Airport under RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme)-UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik). UDAN route "Ludhiana-Delhi-Ludhiana" was awarded to M/s Alliance Air in the first round of bidding that commenced on 01.09.2017. The Airline discontinued the operations to the route on 31.08.2020 after completion of three years' tenure. At present, there are no scheduled flight operations at Ludhiana airport. The UDAN route "Hindon Ludhiana Hindon" has been awarded to M/s Big Charters with nineteen-seater type of aircraft under UDAN 4.2 bidding round, which may commence operation in Summer Schedule, 2023. I would like to inform you that for commercial flight operations, with the repeal of Air Corporations Act in March, 1994, the Indian domestic aviation was deregulated. It is, therefore, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability subject to compliance with the extant guidelines in this regard. However, your request for flight operation from Ludhiana Airport has been shared with all scheduled domestic airlines for favourable consideration.”

30th January, 2022: Arora wrote to Minister of Civil Aviation mentioning that “I along with all Ludhianvis' would like to thank you for awarding the UDAN route Hindon- Ludhiana-Hindon to M/s Big Charters with nineteen-seater type of aircraft under UDAN 4.2, which commences operation in Summer Schedule of 2023.”

12th May 2023: Arora wrote to Minister of Civil Aviation mentioning that “I kindly request your intervention in this matter to expedite the process and ensure that the Big Charter company starts the flight operations as per the UDAN scheme 4.2.”

16th August 2023: Arora wrote to Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) mentioning that “Please intervene and take steps to expedite the resumption of flights to Sahnewal airport and I look forward to your response.”

6th September 2023: First Flight
Meanwhile, MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora said he did his efforts not for seeking any credit but rather to service people of Ludhiana. He added he would continue rendering his selfless services to Ludhianvis to ensure better rail, road and air connectivity and other infrastructure in Ludhiana District. He thanked everyone including the Press for supporting him in taking up and highlighting various issues of people of Ludhiana.