Indore’s Sharjah flight rescheduled due to runway repairs

K K Jha
Indore: The Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport (DABH) in Indore will reschedule the timing of its only direct international flight to Sharjah, operated by Air India Express. The change is due to planned runway repairs, which will restrict flight operations between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM starting April 1.
Without a new time slot, the flight faced the risk of cancellation. However, Air India Express successfully secured an alternative slot, and the flight will now depart two hours earlier than its current schedule. Instead of departing at 11:55 PM, the flight will now take off at 10:25 PM, reaching Sharjah at 2:05 AM. The revised schedule is expected to be implemented after April 3, and the airline has temporarily suspended bookings beyond this date. Ticket reservations will resume once the new schedule is finalized.
The Indore-Sharjah flight operates four days a week—Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday—and has been hailed as the most successful international route from Indore, even surpassing the Indore-Dubai flight. Despite the inconvenience of late-night departures, which sometimes require passengers to book extra hotel stays during layovers, the route continues to witness high demand. Reports of overbookings further confirm its popularity.

Runway repairs to impact 14 flights

The DABH Airport administration has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to airlines, informing them about the upcoming runway re-carpeting work. The repair project was initially scheduled to begin last month but was delayed as Indore Airport was designated as a reserve airport for diverted flights due to adverse weather conditions at northern airports. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had therefore postponed the maintenance work.

MP Shankar Lalwani urges faster airport development

In a bid to improve air connectivity and boost Indore’s growth, Member of Parliament (MP) Shankar Lalwani met with Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi. During the meeting, Lalwani urged the minister to expedite airport development projects and introduce new international and domestic flights from Indore.
Following the meeting, Lalwani expressed optimism about the discussions, stating that the city is witnessing rapid growth, and enhanced airport infrastructure will further accelerate its development. The minister reportedly assured Lalwani that efforts will be made to fulfill these demands soon.