Air India launches ‘Easy Connect’ flights from Amritsar, connecting Punjab to 27 global destinations

PHOTO CREDIT-AIR INDIA

Air India today inaugurated ‘Easy Connect’ services from Amritsar, further expanding the Government of India’s transformative hub-and-spoke model and bringing seamless global connectivity closer to travellers across Punjab. The launch marks an important step forward in the initiative’s nationwide rollout announced in June 2026.

As part of the Easy Connect programme, international travellers from Amritsar can complete through check-in to their final destinations, clear immigration formalities at Amritsar airport, and enjoy seamless transfers through Delhi without having to re-check baggage or change terminals.

This enables travellers to fly via Delhi as international transit passengers, eliminating the need for repeated processes and significantly reducing travel complexity and unfamiliarity often associated with connecting through foreign airports, including foreign language barriers.

Air India has designated two daily flights from Amritsar to Delhi as ‘Easy Connect’ services:

• AI1113: Departs Amritsar at 09:10 AM and arrives in Delhi at 10:40 AM
• AI1115: Departs Amritsar at 10:00 PM and arrives in Delhi at 11:20 PM

Together, these flights provide seamless onward connectivity to 27 international destinations within four hours of arrival in Delhi, including destinations in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, West Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Commenting at the launch, Mr Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, said: “The expansion of hub-and-spoke operations to Amritsar is another step towards our vision of building an aviation network that truly serves a New India – one where global access is no longer confined to a handful of metropolitan centres but extends to every region of the country. By strengthening connectivity through Indian hubs, we are strengthening the foundation for a more integrated, accessible, and globally competitive aviation ecosystem.”

“With these flights, Punjab becomes closer to the rest of the world, deepening connections with its vibrant global diaspora and unlocking new opportunities for tourism, economic growth, and cultural exchange.”

Mr Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Mr Puneet Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Mr Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India; and Mr P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, along with other senior officials from government agencies, airport stakeholders, and Air India were present at the inaugural event.

From Punjab to the world

The morning Easy Connect service from Amritsar (Flight AI1113) is timed to facilitate convenient onward connections to key European destinations including London Heathrow, Birmingham, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich, Frankfurt, and Rome, as well as select destinations in Southeast Asia and West Asia.

The late evening service (Flight AI1115) offers smooth connectivity to destinations in the USA, Canada, Australia, such as New York (JFK), Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Melbourne, Sydney, and select destinations in Southeast Asia and West Asia such as Singapore, Phuket, Bali, Dubai, among others.

Air India will also become the first Indian carrier to implement the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Standard Operating Procedure for inbound hub-and-spoke operations, enabling seamless international-to-domestic transfers via Delhi for passengers travelling onwards to Amritsar. The inbound Easy Connect model is expected to be introduced from Amritsar within the next two months.

P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, said: “Punjab is home to one of the largest globally connected communities of Indians, with generations of families, entrepreneurs, students, and professionals forging strong links with communities around the world, especially the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. Yet for many travellers, international journeys have often involved navigating multiple airports, repeated formalities, and lengthy transit experiences. With Easy Connect flights from Amritsar, travellers can now begin their overseas journeys from their home city without any hassle. We are proud to support the Government of India’s vision to bring the world closer to every Indian while strengthening India’s position as a major global aviation hub.”

Air India is leading a phased nationwide rollout that will progressively connect more domestic “spoke” cities in addition to Amritsar and Varanasi to the airline’s primary hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, unlocking seamless, end-to-end international travel for millions of Indians. In the coming weeks, Air India will begin Easy Connect services from Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, and several other Indian cities.

Building India’s role as a global aviation connector

The Easy Connect initiative forms part of a broader effort to channel more international traffic through Indian airports rather than overseas transit hubs. Nearly 25 million passengers travel long-haul to and from India annually, of which close to 20 million are connecting travellers – and around 85% (approximately 17 million) of whom currently transit through overseas hubs rather than Indian airports.

Through the Government of India’s hub-and-spoke framework and Air India’s growing global network, Easy Connect aims to progressively shift more of this traffic through Indian hubs, providing travellers with a more familiar, seamless, and nationally integrated travel experience.

Air India currently operates the largest international network among Indian carriers, connecting India to destinations across North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, while its extensive domestic network enables convenient access from cities across the country.

More about Easy Connect flights

Passengers travelling on Air India’s Easy Connect flights are required to complete certain pre-departure and transit processes to ensure a seamless journey, including mandatory DigiYatra enrolment for Indian nationals. Indian passport holders connecting internationally on Easy Connect flights are required to enrol in DigiYatra. Web check-in and Customs declaration are not available at spoke airports.

Bookings for Air India’s Easy Connect flights are available across all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, contact centre, and travel agents.