Punjab Newsline | Amritsar
Air India on Monday launched its ‘Easy Connect’ service from Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport, Amritsar, offering seamless connectivity to 27 international destinations through Delhi. The service has been introduced under the Central Government’s hub-and-spoke aviation model and is aimed at improving Punjab’s global air connectivity.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu could not attend the launch in person, but in a video message he described the expansion of the hub-and-spoke model in Amritsar as an important step toward providing world-class air connectivity across India. He said the initiative would strengthen Punjab’s international links and promote tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.
Under the new arrangement, international passengers departing from Amritsar will be able to complete check-in and immigration formalities for their final international destination at Amritsar itself. After arriving in Delhi, they will not need to re-check their baggage or change terminals, allowing them to continue their journey as international transit passengers.
Air India will operate two daily flights between Amritsar and Delhi. Flight AI-1113 will depart Amritsar at 9:10 am and arrive in Delhi at 10:40 am, while flight AI-1115 will depart at 10:00 pm and reach Delhi at 11:20 pm. The airline said passengers will be able to connect to 27 international destinations within four hours of reaching Delhi.
Air India Group Head for Governance, Risk, Compliance and Corporate Affairs, P. Balaji, said that a large number of Punjabis live in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The new facility will spare travelers the inconvenience of repeated formalities and lengthy transit procedures at connecting airports.
The morning Amritsar–Delhi flight will provide onward connections to several European cities, including London, Birmingham, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich, Frankfurt, and Rome.
The night flight will offer connectivity to major destinations such as New York, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Phuket, Bali, and Dubai.
Officials said the launch is expected to provide a major boost to international travel for Punjab residents, particularly the large Punjabi diaspora, while also enhancing the state’s role as an emerging aviation gateway in northern India.
