The much-awaited maiden commercial flight to Halwara International Airport is set to touch down on Friday morning, marking a historic moment for the Ludhiana region and Punjab’s aviation connectivity.The inaugural Air India flight from New Delhi is scheduled to land at Halwara around 6.40 am. According to well-placed sources, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney are expected to arrive on the historic first flight along with other passengers.The launch of flight operations at Halwara airport has generated considerable excitement across Ludhiana and adjoining districts, with administrative authorities making elaborate arrangements to welcome passengers and ensure smooth connectivity from the airport.Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain has directed the transport department to station vehicles at the airport so that passengers do not face inconvenience in reaching Ludhiana if personal transport is unavailable.Local businesses along the Raikot-Halwara airport road are also joining the celebrations. Several eateries and cafes have announced special discounts for passengers arriving on the maiden flight. Vikram Kanwar, one of the owners of Barista on Halwara Road, said passengers showing their flight tickets would receive a 20 per cent discount.Sources said the first flight could witness fewer passengers than the total bookings despite the high public enthusiasm surrounding the airport launch.The development of Halwara airport and commencement of commercial operations have been closely associated with efforts made by AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who had actively pursued the project for years.To make the inaugural journey memorable, Arora had reportedly purchased nearly 40 tickets for his relatives, friends and close associates from his own pocket.However, sources said many among his close circle may not travel on the maiden flight in view of the current circumstances surrounding the AAP leader.“The airport becoming operational is an emotional moment for the region. Sanjeev Arora worked tirelessly for this project and had booked tickets for many near and dear ones to celebrate the occasion,” said an industrialist close to the MP, requesting anonymity.