AMRITSAR: After a gap of nearly five months, the holy city of Amritsar once again enjoys stronger air links with the United Kingdom, as Air India has resumed its direct service between Amritsar and London Gatwick. The first flight departed from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, on October 29, while the return flight from London arrived in Amritsar on October 30, marking the restoration of this highly popular route that had been suspended in June 2025 after the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative (FAI) and Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), represented by Sameep Singh Gumtala (Global Convener, FAI) and Yogesh Kamra (Secretary, AVM), welcomed the resumption, calling it an important milestone for Punjab and its vast diaspora in the United Kingdom. They said the flight’s return reconnects thousands of families and restores direct access between Punjab and the UK that many had eagerly awaited. The flight’s return was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the Punjabi diaspora. According to sources, the inaugural flights operated at full capacity — including business class seats — a reflection of the long-awaited demand and excitement among travelers.
Under the current schedule, the Amritsar–London Gatwick flight will operate three days a week — Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, departing Amritsar at 12:35 pm and arriving in London at 6:00 pm the same day (approx. 10 hrs 55 min flying time). The return flight will then depart from London at 8:00 pm on the same days, arriving in Amritsar the following morning at 11:20 am (approx. 9 hrs 50 min). Due to Pakistan airspace closure, the flight currently takes about 1.5 to 2 hours longer than the usual route.
In addition to this, Air India continues to operate its Amritsar–Birmingham service three days a week, further strengthening air connectivity between Punjab and the United Kingdom.
In a joint statement, Gumtala and Kamra said, “The resumption of this flight once again provides Punjab’s travelers and diaspora with convenient, direct access to the UK, saving them the inconvenience and added cost of traveling via Delhi. We thank Air India for reinstating this vital route and urge the airline to expand it to daily operations in the future. While many Punjabis have, at times, voiced concerns about Air India’s service quality, the value of these direct connections cannot be overstated. Such flights are lifelines for our diaspora, for Punjab’s economy, and for the spiritual and cultural heart of our region — the holy city of Amritsar.”
They further added, “The revival of this route not only restores passenger travel but also reopens critical cargo export opportunities. Punjab’s exporters and industries now regain direct access to UK markets. It is essential that this momentum be supported through enhanced cargo capacity, stronger logistics infrastructure, and greater collaboration among all stakeholders.”
The Punjabi diaspora in North America, including Gumtala, a resident of the USA, hopes that Air India will not only increase the frequency of the Amritsar–London route but also offer one-stop connectivity via London or Birmingham to Toronto, Vancouver, and other destinations in the UK, USA, Canada and Europe, or even start direct flights from Amritsar to Toronto and Vancouver in the near future.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative continues to advocate for even greater international air connectivity from Punjab, urging UK carriers such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as Indian carriers like IndiGo, to consider operating direct flights between the UK and Amritsar.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative, along with Amritsar Vikas Manch, Seva Trust UK, and many other NGOs and community leaders had jointly campaigned between 2017–2019 for direct connectivity between Amritsar and the United Kingdom. Their efforts resulted in the launch of Air India’s Amritsar–London Stansted service in November 2019, setting the stage for the ongoing expansion of direct air links between Punjab and London.