GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3377
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th March 2026 )
FLIGHT SERVICES FROM BATHINDA
3377. SMT HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is true that Alliance Air, after resuming the Delhi-Bathinda-Delhi
flight post Covid, has reduced the frequency of flights despite...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3377 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th March 2026 ) FLIGHT SERVICES FROM BATHINDA
3377. SMT HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is true that Alliance Air, after resuming the Delhi-Bathinda-Delhi flight post Covid, has reduced the frequency of flights despite consistently high occupancy rates, especially when passenger demand remains strong and the route is often running full and if so, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the introduction and expansion of Alliance Air flights to other regional airports such as Hisar and Amravati have led to the diversion of aircraft or resources from Bathinda, thereby affecting its connectivity and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government would consider restoring daily flights between Delhi and Bathinda-given the strategic importance of Bathinda airport for the region's economic, educational and defence infrastructure-and also explore the possibility of introducing additional routes connecting Bathinda to other major cities and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (c): Under UDAN 5.0, the RCS route Bathinda-Delhi-Bathinda was awarded to Alliance Air for the operation of RCS flights with seven frequencies per week. Alliance Air commenced flight operations on this route on
09.10.2023. However, due to shortage of aircraft and to maintain the rotation, the airline is currently operating only four days a week.
Alliance Air is likely to increase the frequency in the first week of April, 2026 to 5 days a week.
With the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in March 1994, Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type and free to select whatever markets and networks they wish to serve and operate. Hence, it is up to the airline operators to consider the introduction or expansion of air services to/from any airport including Bathinda, depending upon their operational and commercial viability.
******