Indigo to start its International Amritsar- Dubai flight from October 28

Amritsar, Sept. 18 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport Amritsar is continuously getting good news for Punjabis in India and abroad with new flights. After the recent announcement of start of four new flights by Indigo, Spice Jet and Jet Airways, Indigo has now announced its first international daily flight from the airport for Dubai on October 28.

               FlyAmritsar Initiative Convener and Secretary Overseas, Amritsar Vikas Manch Sameep Singh Gumtala said that this will be the third direct flight by the Indian carriers from Amritsar Airport for Dubai. SpiceJet and Air India Express are successfully running their flights from here for the past few years. In 2017, out of total of 5.91 lakh travelers of direct international flights, 2.35 lakh passengers traveled on these two direct flights between Amritsar-Dubai that has high occupancy of more than 90 percent.    

             Since 15 July 2018, three international and three domestic flights have now either started or announced. As a result, total number of international and domestic passengers will be greatly increased. Air Asia X startedits Kuala Lumpur flight on 15th August followed by IndiGo direct flights to Hyderabad on September 15 and SpiceJet announced start of direct flights to Bangkok and Goa on November 6.      

                  All the three Indian carriers that are operating three daily flights to Dubai has no code share partnerships with any foreign airline operating from Dubai and hence, do not connect its passengers to other international destinations. Emirates, one of the largest airlines in the World from Dubai, and its partner Fly Dubai, also wants to start flights to Amritsar, that will enable connections to more than 140 of its destinations worldwide.                               

                  Gumtala said that the Regional Director of Fly Dubai in India, in an email reply to them and BJP Punjab President, MP Shwait Malik expressed his willingness to start flights to Amritsar. But the bilateral air service agreements between the two countries do not allow Dubai airline carriers to fly to Amritsar. Indian civil aviation ministry has said that they are not going to give permission to Dubai carriers to any new destinations in India.           

               Punjabis in India and abroad are very happy with the launch of new flights. With the increase in number of flights and travelers, we hope that soon there will be direct flights to Canada, UK and other countries of Europe with large number of Punjabis. Our team is constantly contacting foreign airlines with updated detailed statistics and alsorequesting new flights through the campaign started on twitter.