Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu Demands ‘Point of Call’ Status for Chandigarh Airport

March 17, 2026

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu raised the issue of international connectivity from Chandigarh International Airport. He urged Union government to include the airport in the official ‘Points of Call’ list to allow more international flights to operate.

Speaking in the House, he thanked PM Narendra Modi for prioritizing Punjab in capacity-building initiatives in the aviation sector, but also placed a specific demand regarding international flight operations from Chandigarh.

The MP pointed out that although two flights currently operate from Chandigarh to Gulf countries, international flights cannot freely land or take off because the airport is not included in the official Points of Call list. Inclusion in the list would allow airlines from foreign countries to operate direct international flights to and from the airport.

Highlighting the inconvenience faced by passengers from Punjab, the MP said that people often have to travel long hours to reach Delhi for international flights. The journey from Punjab to Delhi can take around 7–8 hours, and nearly 11–12 hours in total when combined with airport procedures.

The MP also requested that Chandigarh International Airport be upgraded to world-class standards to improve connectivity and convenience for travelers from the region.

According to the MP Sandhu, the government gave encouraging assurances on the matter, describing the discussion as a significant step forward toward improving international aviation connectivity for Punjab and the surrounding region.