Ambala Airport, Ambala: Terminal, Code, Location, Connectivity and Amenities

Ambala has been part of India’s military aviation map since 1919, when the British Raj established what became the Ambala Air Force Station — one of the oldest continuously operating air bases in the country. It hosts No. 14 Squadron, No. 5 Squadron, and No. 17 Squadron of the IAF, and is the base from which India’s Rafale fighter jets first operated after induction in 2020. Civil aviation at Ambala has had a far shorter and more interrupted story. A UDAN 3.0 civil enclave was approved in December 2018, the foundation stone was laid in October 2023, the terminal building was physically completed in August 2024, and as of June 2026, Ambala Airport was on the verge of inaugurating commercial operations — with Union Minister of State Banwari Lal Verma inspecting the facility on 9 June 2026 and stating that only minor finishing works remained. Scheduled flights have not commenced as of mid-2026.

Quick Overview: Ambala Airport

Ambala Airport Location: Ambala Cantonment on the Punjab–Haryana Border

Ambala Airport’s civil enclave is located in Ambala Cantonment, the southern urban zone of Ambala city, on a 20-acre plot transferred from defence authorities adjacent to the Ambala Air Force Station. Coordinates are 30°22′15″N, 76°49′04″E, at an elevation of 275 metres above mean sea level — the flat Punjab plains terrain typical of this part of Haryana.

Ambala Cantonment’s position in north Haryana gives the airport a catchment that extends well beyond the city itself. It sits approximately 45 kilometres south of Chandigarh, 120 kilometres north of Delhi, and near the Punjab–Haryana border, placing it at the confluence of travel demand from large population centres in both states. The Haryana state government has emphasised that the airport will serve travellers from Himachal Pradesh (hill districts south of Shimla), Punjab districts south of Chandigarh, and western Uttar Pradesh — all regions where air travel access is presently constrained.

Ambala is also a major rail and road junction on the Delhi–Amritsar Golden Quadrilateral corridor — NH-44 passes through, and Ambala Cantonment Railway Station is one of the busiest junction stations in northwestern India. The airport’s purpose is to add an air option to a city already well-served by rail but not aviation.

The Ambala Air Force Station has two runways with a combined length of 17,176 feet, fully lit, and upgraded for all-weather operations. The civil enclave will use this air force runway for civilian aircraft takeoff and landing.

Ambala Airport Code: IATA AMI and ICAO VIAM

The airport’s IATA code is AMI and its ICAO code is VIAM. Both are formally assigned and listed in aviation databases, though no commercial flights have used them as of mid-2026. VIAM is the ICAO identifier for the Ambala Air Force Station complex, shared between the IAF base and the civil enclave. AMI will become the booking identifier for commercial flights from Ambala once service commences.

Ambala Airport Terminal: Completed but Not Yet Inaugurated

The civil enclave terminal building at Ambala Domestic Airport was physically completed in August 2024 on the 20-acre defence land parcel. Construction cost approximately ₹22 crore, with land acquisition running to an additional ₹133 crore. The terminal is designed to handle regional domestic passenger traffic under the UDAN scheme — sized appropriately for initial ATR-class operations connecting Ambala to destinations within a few hours’ flying time.

The path from completion to launch has been longer than anticipated. After the terminal was finished, delays arose in the installation of essential security equipment — specifically luggage X-ray scanners and other CISF-standard screening gear. These were flagged in early 2026 as the primary outstanding items preventing inauguration. By February 2026, the Civil Aviation Department had granted in-principle approval to PWD (B&R) for construction of additional staff blocks, security personnel quarters, and a canteen building at an estimated ₹1.20 crore, with completion targeted by end of 2026.

During a formal inspection on 9 June 2026, Union MoS Banwari Lal Verma confirmed that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has identified no technical obstacles to commencing commercial operations, that aircraft parking facilities are complete, and that only a few minor finishing works remain. Multiple airlines have expressed interest in operating from the airport. The airport is expected to become India’s 165th operational airport. The runway, which serves the IAF station, has been upgraded to support round-the-clock all-weather operations. A second phase — which would involve construction of a larger terminal allowing direct boarding from the building rather than bus transfers — is in proposal stage.

Ambala Airport Connectivity: No Commercial Flights Yet, Strong Rail Alternative

By Air: No scheduled commercial flights have commenced from Ambala Airport as of mid-2026. The terminal is complete and inauguration is imminent per ministerial statements in June 2026. Once operational, expected UDAN-scheme routes would connect Ambala to Delhi, Chandigarh, and other cities under the regional connectivity framework. The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has specifically requested Ambala–Nanded Sahib (Hazur Sahib) and Ambala–Patna Sahib routes for Sikh pilgrimage traffic — indicating the religious pilgrimage corridor as a likely priority destination set.

By Road: Ambala Cantonment is on NH-44, the Delhi–Amritsar national highway, and is well-connected to Delhi (approximately 200 km, 3 to 3.5 hours), Chandigarh (approximately 45 km, 45 to 60 minutes), and Ludhiana (approximately 100 km). Taxis and HRTC/PRTC buses cover these routes regularly.

By Rail: Ambala Cantonment Railway Station is one of the most significant junction stations in northwestern India, serving trains on the Delhi–Amritsar, Delhi–Kalka, and Delhi–Chandigarh lines. The airport’s civil enclave is within the cantonment area, making rail-to-airport transfers relatively straightforward.

Ambala Airport Amenities: Basic UDAN-Standard Terminal

The terminal building at Ambala Airport is designed for UDAN-scheme regional operations — compact, functional, and scaled to initial small-aircraft traffic. Basic passenger amenities include a check-in area, security screening, a waiting lounge, and restrooms. A canteen block is under construction as part of the Phase 2 finishing works. Premium lounges, duty-free retail, and multi-cuisine food courts are not part of a terminal at this development stage.

Ground transport from the terminal will be by taxi and road transport given the cantonment location. The second phase proposal — which would enable passengers to board directly from the terminal rather than via bus transfers to the aircraft — would improve passenger experience significantly when constructed.

FAQs: Ambala Airport

Q1. What is the IATA code for Ambala Airport?

The IATA code is AMI and the ICAO code is VIAM. The airport is a civil enclave at the Ambala Air Force Station in Ambala Cantonment, Haryana.

Q2. Have commercial flights started from Ambala Airport?

Not as of mid-2026. The terminal was completed in August 2024 but delayed by pending security equipment installation and staff infrastructure. Union MoS Banwari Lal Verma inspected the facility on 9 June 2026 and stated no technical obstacles remain — inauguration and flight commencement is expected imminently.

Q3. Which runway will Ambala Airport’s commercial flights use?

The civil enclave shares the runway of the Ambala Air Force Station, which has been upgraded for round-the-clock all-weather operations. Civil aircraft will use the IAF runway for takeoff and landing, while the 20-acre civil enclave provides the terminal and passenger infrastructure.

Q4. Why did Ambala Airport take so long to open after the terminal was built?

The terminal was completed in August 2024 but essential security equipment — luggage X-ray scanners and screening gear — was not installed promptly. Additional staff blocks, security quarters, and a canteen also needed to be constructed. These ancillary works and equipment procurement delayed inauguration beyond the original August 2024 target.

Q5. Which cities will be served from Ambala Airport?

Once operational, expected destinations under UDAN include Delhi, Chandigarh, and pilgrimage routes like Nanded Sahib (Hazur Sahib) and Patna Sahib — reflecting both regional business and Sikh pilgrimage demand. Airlines that have expressed interest have not been publicly named as of mid-2026.