Nine Years on Operations from Bathinda Airport Yet to Take Off

03 Jul 2025 CW Team

While the Delhi route has shown relatively better passenger numbers, the Hindon route records low occupancy, according to official data. Alliance Air runs the Delhi service with a 48-seater aircraft and occasionally deploys a 72-seater when demand increases. Flybig, which operates a 19-seater aircraft on the Hindon route, has consistently reported average occupancy of less than 50 per cent.

The airport earlier had direct flights to Delhi and Jammu, with occupancy levels averaging around 80 per cent. However, these services were discontinued when Alliance Air, then under Air India, ceased operations in 2019 after the end of its contract. Flights to Delhi stopped in November 2020, while the Jammu route was suspended a year earlier.

Operations between Delhi and Bathinda resumed in October 2023 after Air India Limited, now under the Tata Group, took over Alliance Air. However, the Jammu route remains inactive, with no other airline having stepped in so far.

Authorities at Bathinda airport believe the Malwa region holds strong potential for aviation expansion. They have noted rising demand, particularly for flights to religious destinations such as Jammu, Nanded, and Ayodhya. The presence of major institutions like AIIMS and the Central University of Punjab in Bathinda further underscores the need for improved connectivity.

Efforts are underway to engage with airlines to expand services. The airport administration is in discussions with Indigo to explore flight options connecting Bathinda with Delhi, Jammu, Nanded, and Ayodhya. Local political representatives, including Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, are reportedly supporting efforts to enhance regional connectivity and encourage private airlines to operate in the area.

Plans are also in place to formally approach Indigo and other carriers, urging them to assess and act upon the growing demand for flights from Bathinda.

News source: Hindustan Times

Nearly nine years after its inauguration, Bathinda airport in Punjab’s southwest continues to face limited air connectivity and low utilisation of its routes. Situated in Virk Kalan village, around 30 kilometres from Bathinda city, the airport currently operates only two routes—Delhi and Hindon in Noida.While the Delhi route has shown relatively better passenger numbers, the Hindon route records low occupancy, according to official data. Alliance Air runs the Delhi service with a 48-seater aircraft and occasionally deploys a 72-seater when demand increases. Flybig, which operates a 19-seater aircraft on the Hindon route, has consistently reported average occupancy of less than 50 per cent.The airport earlier had direct flights to Delhi and Jammu, with occupancy levels averaging around 80 per cent. However, these services were discontinued when Alliance Air, then under Air India, ceased operations in 2019 after the end of its contract. Flights to Delhi stopped in November 2020, while the Jammu route was suspended a year earlier.Operations between Delhi and Bathinda resumed in October 2023 after Air India Limited, now under the Tata Group, took over Alliance Air. However, the Jammu route remains inactive, with no other airline having stepped in so far.Authorities at Bathinda airport believe the Malwa region holds strong potential for aviation expansion. They have noted rising demand, particularly for flights to religious destinations such as Jammu, Nanded, and Ayodhya. The presence of major institutions like AIIMS and the Central University of Punjab in Bathinda further underscores the need for improved connectivity.Efforts are underway to engage with airlines to expand services. The airport administration is in discussions with Indigo to explore flight options connecting Bathinda with Delhi, Jammu, Nanded, and Ayodhya. Local political representatives, including Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, are reportedly supporting efforts to enhance regional connectivity and encourage private airlines to operate in the area.Plans are also in place to formally approach Indigo and other carriers, urging them to assess and act upon the growing demand for flights from Bathinda.News source: Hindustan Times

Real Estate

02 Apr 2026

Indian real estate attracts USD 1.4 bn institutional investments in Q1 2026: Vestian

Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector touched USD 1.4 billion in Q1 2026, marking the highest first-quarter inflow since 2022, according to Vestian. While investments fell 62 per cent quarter-on-quarter due to an exceptionally high base in the previous quarter, they rose 74 per cent compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained investor confidence despite rising geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.Commercial real estate remained the key driver of investment activity during the quarter, accounting for 80 per cent of total inflows, sharply higher than 38 p..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Apr 2026

VECV crosses 1 lakh annual vehicle sales milestone in FY26

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, has surpassed the 1 lakh annual sales mark in FY 2025–26, recording its highest-ever commercial vehicle sales performance. The company said it sold more than 100,000 vehicles during the year, marking a major milestone aligned with the original vision of the Volvo–Eicher joint venture.The strong performance was supported by demand across categories. Light and Medium Duty (LMD) trucks contributed 47,789 units, accounting for 46.1 per cent of total sales. Heavy Duty (HD) trucks recorded 26,867 units (25.9 pe..

Technology

02 Apr 2026

Rodic Digital & Advisory partners SatSure to deploy EO intelligence in public sector

Rodic Digital & Advisory (RDA), the strategic advisory and digital transformation arm of Rodic Consultants, has signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SatSure to jointly pursue opportunities in India’s public sector. The collaboration aims to integrate high-resolution Earth Observation (EO) data and geospatial AI into government workflows to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and operational decision-making across key sectors.The partnership combines SatSure’s Earth intelligence capabilities with RDA’s expertise in government digital transformation and ..