Air India Express will resume direct non-stop flights between Chandigarh’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport and Sharjah from October 26, 2026, bringing back a route that was suspended in 2023. The service will operate four days a week — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday — and will become Chandigarh airport’s third international route.
Four weekly flights to Sharjah
The Chandigarh–Sharjah service will operate under flight numbers IX 453 and IX 454. The outbound flight will depart Chandigarh at 1:50 pm and arrive in Sharjah at 4:50 pm, covering the sector non-stop in around four hours and 30 minutes.
The return flight will leave Sharjah at 5:50 pm and reach Chandigarh at 11:05 pm, with a flying time of around three hours and 45 minutes. One-way fares for the Chandigarh–Sharjah sector are available from approximately ₹17,820.
Third international route for Chandigarh airport
With the return of the Sharjah service, Chandigarh airport will have three international routes — Dubai and Abu Dhabi operated by IndiGo, and Sharjah operated by Air India Express.
Sharjah is an important destination for the Punjabi diaspora, with the UAE emirate having a significant population of workers, traders and families from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The route’s return could reduce the need for passengers from the region to travel to Delhi or Amritsar for flights to the UAE.
Route returns amid connectivity debate
The announcement also comes amid a long-running debate over Chandigarh airport’s international connectivity. According to the information provided, the Union government told the Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2026, that no airline had a pending slot request for international operations at Chandigarh airport at that time.
The government had also confirmed that infrastructure and compliance requirements, including customs, immigration and Airport Health Organisation facilities, were in place.
Why foreign airlines remain a key issue
The airport’s international expansion also remains linked to the issue of Point of Call (PoC) status. Indian carriers such as IndiGo and Air India Express can operate international flights from designated international airports such as Chandigarh.
Foreign airlines, however, require Chandigarh to be included as a Point of Call under India’s bilateral air service agreements before they can operate flights to the city.
This means the return of Air India Express’ Sharjah service expands Chandigarh’s international connectivity, while the broader demand for direct flights to destinations such as London, Singapore and Vancouver remains part of the ongoing PoC debate.
Parliamentary push for more international flights
BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu has raised Chandigarh’s international connectivity in the Rajya Sabha multiple times. The issue has included demands for direct flights to London, Singapore and Vancouver, as well as concerns over passengers travelling to Delhi for international connections.
The resumption of the Chandigarh–Sharjah service is therefore likely to add another development to the wider discussion around expanding international connectivity from the airport.
