In a welcome change for passengers, what was earlier announced as a complete closure of Chandigarh Airport during the runway repair period will now see a seven-hour daily operational window from October 26 to November 6. The revised plan, introduced amid the festive travel rush, comes as a relief to thousands of flyers who feared flight cancellations
According to officials, flight operations at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport (SBSI) will now be permitted between 5 am and 12 noon each day, while the runway remains closed for maintenance for the rest of the day. The Indian Air Force (IAF), which manages the airfield, granted this limited window after extensive coordination with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and airlines, allowing essential travel to continue even as major resurfacing work begins.
The ongoing repair works involves applying a polymer-modified emulsion (PME) layer to the runway — a critical upgrade expected to improve strength, grip and longevity of the surface. The IAF has already issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) detailing the temporary operational restrictions for civil flights.
“The early morning slot has been prioritised to ensure maximum connectivity and convenience during festive travel,” said an airport official. “Coordination among the IAF, AAI, and airline operators has ensured that the transition remains smooth and organised.”
A second phase of repairs will follow between November 7 and 18, when flights will be allowed for 18 hours daily (5 am to 11 pm), with runway closures limited to night-time hours for continued maintenance.
The airport currently handles around 50 flights a day, connecting to 21 destinations — 19 domestic and two international (Dubai and Sharjah). Airlines have been asked to revise schedules accordingly, and passengers have been advised to confirm flight timings before travel.
Authorities have also stepped up measures to tackle bird hazards in and around the airfield, with civic agencies carrying out clean-up and anti-bird drives after an increase in sightings near the runway.
"While the shortened operating window may cause temporary inconvenience, the runway upgrade is expected to significantly improve flight safety and operational efficiency in the long term. For passengers eager to reunite with family or travel for holidays, the seven-hour operational window from October 26 to November 6 offers much-needed festive relief at a time when full closure was initially anticipated", said officials.