AMRITSAR: The FlyAmritsar Initiative has highlighted a significant enhancement in international connectivity to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (SGRDJI), Amritsar, with four prominent Asian airline carriers - Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Scoot, and Thai Lion Air – strengthening their operations for the upcoming winter travel season.
According to Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, the winter schedule (November 2025 – March 2026) will mark one of the strongest phases of connectivity from Amritsar to Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand in recent years. Together, these airlines will increase its total weekly flight count from 36 to 40 weekly (both ways), providing nearly 9, 300 seats between Amritsar and their main hubs—Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bangkok.
This network offers seamless one-stop direct travel options from Punjab to destinations across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong, as well as convenient onward links to Australia and New Zealand. With multiple full-service and low-cost options now available, travelers can bypass Delhi Airport and enjoy faster, more affordable connections to and from Amritsar.
Sharing details of the individual carriers, Gumtala noted that Malaysia Airlines will continue to operate fourteen flights weekly between Kuala Lumpur and Amritsar, offering full-service connectivity to a vast range of destinations. The airline recently announced network expansions, including a new route from Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane (starting November 25, 2025) and additional flight frequencies to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Auckland. The expansion means that the travelers can now complete their journey in approximately 15-19 hours. Through its partnership with Qantas Airline, Malaysia Airlines provides easy access to all major Australian cities. The carrier also connects Amritsar passengers to popular Southeast Asian destinations such as Phuket, Bali, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila via Kuala Lumpur.
AirAsia, Malaysia’s leading low-cost carrier, has increased its Kuala Lumpur – Amritsar service from six to eight flights weekly for the winter season. From Kuala Lumpur, passengers can connect onward through the AirAsia Group’s extensive regional network to major Southeast Asian cities, as well as to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth in Australia, through its long-haul partner AirAsia X.
Highlighting the Singapore link, Gumtala said Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, will operate ten flights weekly between Singapore and Amritsar using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Through seamless interline connections with Singapore Airlines, passengers can also access an extensive global network across Asia-Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, including routes to Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Auckland, and North American cities such as Vancouver and Calgary through its partnership with Air Canada.
Adding to this strong Southeast Asian presence, Thai Lion Air is increasing its direct flights between Amritsar and Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport from six to eight flights weekly, offering fast, four-hour connectivity to Thailand. From Bangkok, passengers can continue to popular leisure and business destinations such as Krabi, Phuket, Bali, Chiang Mai, as well as regional hubs including Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
Speaking about these positive developments, Gumtala stated: “The growing network from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok demonstrates Amritsar’s increasing importance for both the diaspora and travellers from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana.”
He urged the Punjabi diaspora and international travellers to support the airlines operating from Amritsar by choosing the city - instead of Delhi - as their gateway, thereby helping sustain and expand these routes. This, he added, will also encourage more airlines to launch direct services in the future.
Gumtala further appealed to the airport authorities to continue improving facilities at Amritsar Airport and to the Punjab Government to provide public transportation access through dedicated bus connectivity to major cities across Punjab, along with stronger promotion of Amritsar as a global tourism and pilgrimage destination.