Mohali, Sept. 18 -- Working on enhancing international air connectivity, the Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) is all set to offer significant incentives to attract foreign airlines. The move comes as the airport, despite its "international" tag, currently operates only two overseas flights-to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates-alongside 33 domestic services. The round-the-clock operations at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport began in April 2019. Speaking on the occasion of Passenger Service Day on Wednesday, CHIAL CEO Ajay Verma said, "The incentives offered include waiver of night parking charges, airport fees, landing charges and cargo handling charges, along with marketing support for airlines. The draft policy has been forwarded to the Union ministry of civil aviation for approval." He shared that these concessions could reduce operational costs for airlines by Rs.1-1.5 crore per month, as they pay Rs.70,000 to Rs.80,000 per flight as land and parking fee. Verma explained that extensive consultations were held with airline operators before framing the policy. "We are hopeful that the policy will make Chandigarh a more attractive destination for international carriers," he said. A key hurdle, however, remains the issue of granting Chandigarh the status of a "point of call", which allows foreign airlines to operate regular international services under bilateral agreements between countries. Verma said the matter was recently raised at a meeting in Kolkata and discussed by the Airport Advisory Committee. Efforts are also underway at the political level, with the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana as well as Chandigarh's member of Parliament urging the Union government to approve Chandigarh as a point of call. Currently, the civil aviation ministry is reviewing 17 airports, including Chandigarh, for this status. The proposal envisions flights to destinations within seven to eight hours of flying time, which could open direct connections to south-east Asia, central Asia and parts of Europe....