Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab. Photo: Shutterstock Air India has officially launched its Easy Connect service from Amritsar, expanding India's ambitious hub-and-spoke aviation strategy and making international travel simpler for millions of passengers across Punjab.
The new service allows travelers departing from Amritsar to complete check-in for their final destination, clear immigration formalities at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, and seamlessly connect through Delhi without collecting baggage or changing terminals.
Photo: Air IndiaThe initiative is part of a nationwide rollout announced earlier this year and follows a recent Memorandum of Understanding between Air India and India's Ministry of Tourism aimed at promoting the country as a leading global tourism and aviation hub.
Two daily flights from Amritsar have been designated as Easy Connect services. Flight AI1113 departs at 9:10 a.m. and arrives in Delhi at 10:40 a.m., while AI1115 leaves Amritsar at 10:00 p.m. and lands in the capital at 11:20 p.m.
Together, the flights offer onward connections to 27 international destinations within four hours of arrival in Delhi. Passengers can continue their journeys to cities including New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Dubai, and Bali.
Government officials say the program represents an important step in expanding global connectivity beyond India's major metropolitan areas.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said the initiative reflects the country's vision of creating an aviation network where international access extends to every region of India.
Punjab's large international diaspora is expected to benefit significantly from the service. The state maintains strong ties with communities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, making international connectivity a key priority.
Air India also announced plans to become the first Indian airline to implement the Ministry of Civil Aviation's standard operating procedure for inbound hub and spoke operations, allowing international passengers arriving in Delhi to seamlessly connect onward to Amritsar.
The airline says Easy Connect will continue expanding nationwide, with Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, and several other cities expected to join the program in the coming weeks.
With nearly 17 million Indian travelers currently connecting through overseas airports each year, Air India hopes the initiative will encourage more passengers to transit through Indian hubs, strengthening the country's position in global aviation.