BATHINDA, July 1 -- Nearly nine years after its inauguration, Bathinda airport, the only aviation facility in Punjab's southwest region, is still grappling with limited connectivity and underutilised routes.

Located in Virk Kalan village, about 30km from Bathinda city, the airport currently serves only two routes - Delhi and Hindon in Noida. However, official data shows that while the Delhi route is relatively popular, the Hindon route struggles with low occupancy, leading to mixed responses from passengers.

Alliance Air (AA) operates flights on the Bathinda-Delhi route with a 48-seater aircraft, while Flybig operates a smaller 19-seater on the Bathinda-Hindon route. According to Bathinda airport authorities, Flybig's average occupancy ...