Our Correspondent
Ludhiana, May 15

As there is spike in Covid-19 cases in the city, the industrial capital of the state, majority of the people have shelved their travel plans leading to suspension of several long route trains. The pandemic has also cast its shadow on lone Alliance Air flight, operating between Ludhiana and New Delhi. Though the reasons for suspension of the flight are obvious, officials of Alliance Air maintain that flight was suspended till May 20, 2021, due to operational reasons.

Ludhiana Airport officials say last flight arrived and took off from Sahnewal Airport on April 9, 2021. Thereafter, the flight was first suspended till May 9. Now, it has been further suspended till May 20.

“The air traffic and the pandemic situation will be reviewed by the airport authorities and the airline operating Ludhiana-Delhi flight on May 20. Further decision about resumption of flight, or otherwise, will be taken thereafter,” said sources at the airport.

Low volume of passengers (ranging between 35 to 50 per cent) on the four days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) flight, which arrived at and took off from the Sahnewal airport in Ludhiana, due to adverse impact of the pandemic was a cause of concern for the operator, claimed the sources. At one stage there were reports of complete withdrawal of the flight due to its financial non-viability, the sources added.

Hike in air fares due to withdrawal of financial assistance by the Union Government under its ‘UDAAN’ scheme last year and change in timetable (from morning to evening) were other factors that had impacted the passenger traffic on the Ludhiana-Delhi sector, said the sources.