Halwara flights: Air India's winter timings for Delhi-Ludhiana route from October 25

Air India has announced its winter timetable for flights between Delhi and Halwara airport near Ludhiana in Punjab, with the new timings taking effect from Sunday, October 25, 2026. The airline will continue to run two daily round trips on the route, but the departure times move later in the day than in the summer schedule. The timetable was reported on October 19, 2026. Air India began flights to Halwara on May 15, 2026, becoming the first airline to serve the airport.

Ludhiana is one of Punjab's main industrial and trading cities, and air connections from the region to Delhi have been limited. The airport at Halwara, near the city, gives the Ludhiana region a direct air link to the national capital, and from there to the rest of the country.

Air India's service, started in May, is so far the airport's only scheduled connection. The new winter timings matter to its users. The summer schedule had a very early departure from Delhi, at 5.55 am, which was hard for many passengers to reach. The winter schedule moves the first departure to 9.50 am and the second to 2.35 pm, which may suit day trips, business meetings and connections at Delhi better. For travellers from Halwara, the morning return to Delhi now leaves at 11.40 am instead of 7.55 am.

Because Delhi is Air India's main hub, the flights also act as a link to the wider network. A traveller from Ludhiana can connect at Delhi to other Indian cities and to international flights, which matters to the many Punjabi families who travel abroad to visit relatives, study or work. Shorter journeys to Delhi's airport can save them hours of road travel.

The timings come with the start of the winter flight schedule, which airlines in India follow from the end of October to the end of March each year. This season it runs from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, according to published travel schedules, after which summer timings return. During this period, airlines often change departure times and frequencies across their networks, so travellers should check their bookings.

Short-term: The change is not a cut in service: the number of daily flights stays at two each way. Passengers already booked on the Delhi-Halwara route from October 25 should check their new departure times with the airline, as the times have shifted by several hours.

Long-term: Regular, more convenient timings could build steady demand at Halwara and encourage other airlines to add routes, giving Ludhiana's industries and residents better air links. Demand will also depend on fares and road access to the airport.

Who is affected: business travellers and traders from Ludhiana and nearby districts; families of Punjabis living abroad who connect through Delhi; tourists visiting Punjab; and the airport's operators and staff.

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