On record
A civil enclave was carved out of the Pathankot Air Force Station and Alliance Air began Delhi-Pathankot flights in April 2018 under UDAN, but the airline pulled out when its three-year Viability Gap Funding contract ended in April 2021. No carrier has resumed commercial service since, and in December 2025 the Civil Aviation Ministry listed Pathankot among 15 UDAN airports nationwide with zero flight operations.
The official record states: "Per the government's Lok Sabha reply, "Any airline may commence scheduled commercial operations between Pathankot and Delhi keeping in view the traffic and commercial viability", i.e. the route was deemed commercially unviable once subsidy support ended."
“The subsidy ran out in three years and the airline left with it. The civil enclave remains, civilly.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/unviable-rs-4-crore-pathankot-airport-project-fails-to-take-off/
- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/pathankot-ludhiana-shimla-among-15-udan-airports-with-no-flight-operation/
Visitor reviews Satire
“The subsidy lasted three years and the airline left the month it ended.”
“A civil enclave carved out of an air force station, with no scheduled flight since April 2021.”
“The ministry says any airline may start flying here keeping commercial viability in view, and none has.”