Air India has launched its Easy Connect service from Amritsar, extending the Government of India’s hub-and-spoke aviation strategy to Punjab and offering travellers seamless access to 27 international destinations via Delhi.
The initiative, which was announced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in June 2026, is designed to simplify international travel by enabling passengers from regional Indian cities to connect through major domestic hubs instead of overseas transit airports. The Amritsar launch follows the introduction of the programme in Varanasi and marks another milestone in the nationwide rollout.
Simplifying International Travel
Under the Easy Connect programme, passengers departing from Amritsar can complete through check-in for their final international destination, clear immigration formalities at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, and transfer seamlessly through Delhi without reclaiming baggage or changing terminals.
The streamlined process allows travellers to remain international transit passengers while connecting through Delhi, reducing travel time and eliminating many of the challenges associated with transiting through foreign airports, including repeated security checks, baggage transfers and language barriers.
Air India has designated two daily flights between Amritsar and Delhi as Easy Connect services:
- AI1113: Amritsar (09:10) – Delhi (10:40)
- AI1115: Amritsar (22:00) – Delhi (23:20)
Together, these flights provide onward connectivity to 27 international destinations within four hours of arrival in Delhi, spanning North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Enhanced Connectivity for Punjab
Speaking at the inauguration, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said the expansion supports the Government’s vision of creating a more connected and globally competitive aviation ecosystem.
He noted that extending hub-and-spoke operations beyond India’s major metropolitan centres would strengthen international access for regional travellers while supporting tourism, economic development and stronger links with India’s global diaspora.
Punjab has one of the world’s largest overseas Indian communities, particularly in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, making improved international connectivity a significant boost for both leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India and Air India attended the launch ceremony.
Connecting Punjab to the World
The morning Easy Connect service has been scheduled to provide convenient onward connections to major European destinations, including London Heathrow, Birmingham, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich, Frankfurt and Rome, as well as selected destinations in Southeast Asia and the Gulf.
The evening departure offers connections to key long-haul markets including New York (JFK), Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Melbourne and Sydney, together with destinations such as Singapore, Phuket, Bali and Dubai.
Air India also plans to become the first Indian airline to implement the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Standard Operating Procedure for inbound hub-and-spoke operations, enabling international passengers arriving in Delhi to transfer seamlessly onto domestic flights to Amritsar. The inbound Easy Connect model is expected to be introduced within the coming months.
Supporting India’s Aviation Hub Strategy
P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs at Air India, said the initiative addresses long-standing challenges faced by international travellers from Punjab.
He noted that passengers will now be able to begin their overseas journeys from their home city with fewer formalities while supporting the Government’s broader ambition of positioning India as a major global aviation hub.
The airline plans to progressively extend Easy Connect services to additional cities, including Ahmedabad, Goa and Kochi, linking more regional centres with its primary international hubs in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Building India’s Global Transit Network
The Easy Connect programme forms part of India’s long-term strategy to channel more international passenger traffic through domestic airports rather than overseas hubs.
According to Ministry of Civil Aviation estimates, nearly 25 million passengers travel on long-haul routes to and from India each year. Approximately 20 million of these passengers are connecting travellers, with around 85% currently transiting through foreign hubs instead of Indian airports.
By strengthening domestic hub connectivity and expanding Air India’s international network, the initiative aims to encourage more travellers to connect through India, creating a more seamless travel experience while supporting the country’s ambition to become a leading global aviation gateway.
