Air India has introduced its Easy Connect service from Amritsar, allowing passengers to travel to 27 international destinations with a single check-in and a smoother transit experience through Delhi. The initiative is aimed at making overseas travel easier for people from Punjab by reducing the hassle of multiple check-ins, baggage collection and repeated immigration procedures during connecting flights.
The airline said the service is part of its efforts to strengthen India’s aviation network by improving connectivity between regional cities and major international destinations. The new facility also supports the government’s vision of developing Indian airports into strong global transit hubs, reducing dependence on foreign airports for international connections.
Under the Easy Connect programme, passengers departing from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, can complete their check-in for the entire journey at the starting point itself. They receive boarding passes for all flight segments, while their checked baggage is tagged directly to the final international destination. This means travellers do not have to collect and recheck their luggage during transit at Delhi.
The service also allows passengers to complete immigration formalities before boarding the domestic flight from Amritsar. Once they arrive in Delhi, they can move directly to the international departure area without going through immigration again, making the transfer process significantly quicker and more convenient.
Air India has scheduled two daily Easy Connect flights between Amritsar and Delhi to support the programme. These flights are timed to connect efficiently with the airline’s long-haul international departures, ensuring that passengers can board their onward flights with minimal waiting time.
Through the new service, travellers from Amritsar can now reach 27 destinations across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Middle East and Asia. These include major cities such as New York, Newark, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Birmingham, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Dubai, Phuket and Bali. The airline says most onward connections can be completed within a few hours after arriving in Delhi.
For thousands of people in Punjab who regularly travel abroad for employment, higher education, business or family visits, the service promises a much more comfortable journey. Instead of worrying about changing terminals, retrieving baggage or standing in long immigration queues during transit, passengers can enjoy a seamless travel experience from the moment they leave Amritsar until they reach their final destination.
The Easy Connect facility is expected to be particularly beneficial for senior citizens, families travelling with children and first-time international flyers. These passengers often find multiple airport procedures confusing and tiring. By completing most formalities at the departure airport, the programme removes much of the stress associated with international travel.
Air India said the initiative is another important milestone in its ongoing transformation following its acquisition by the Tata Group. Over the past few years, the airline has expanded its international route network, modernised its fleet, upgraded passenger services and invested heavily in improving customer experience. Easy Connect is seen as another step towards building a more integrated and efficient travel network.
The launch also reflects India’s broader hub-and-spoke aviation strategy. Under this model, passengers from regional cities are connected to a major hub airport, such as Delhi, from where they can continue to destinations around the world. This approach allows airlines to offer more international connectivity without operating direct long-haul flights from every city.
A stronger hub-and-spoke network also helps Indian airports compete with major international transit centres like Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Officials believe that retaining more transit traffic within India will strengthen the country’s aviation sector, generate additional revenue for airports and airlines, and improve the overall passenger experience.
The Amritsar launch follows the successful implementation of Easy Connect at other airports in India. Air India has indicated that it plans to expand the programme further, connecting more domestic cities with its growing international network. The airline is also working on introducing similar facilities for inbound passengers arriving in India from overseas, allowing them to continue their domestic journeys more efficiently.
Industry experts say the initiative could play a major role in boosting tourism, trade and business travel from Punjab. Better international connectivity is expected to benefit exporters, entrepreneurs, students and professionals who frequently travel abroad. It may also encourage more overseas visitors to use Amritsar as a gateway to northern India.
However, some local organisations have expressed concern that increased reliance on connecting flights should not come at the cost of direct international services from Amritsar. They argue that Punjab’s large overseas population still needs more non-stop flights to key destinations. Aviation experts, however, believe that Easy Connect complements direct flights by providing access to a much wider range of cities that may not be commercially viable through non-stop services.
With Amritsar now linked seamlessly to 27 international destinations, Air India is offering travellers from Punjab a simpler way to fly overseas. By combining single check-in, through baggage handling, faster airport transfers and better connectivity, the airline hopes to deliver a more convenient travel experience while supporting India’s ambition of becoming a major global aviation gateway.
Passengers can book Easy Connect itineraries through Air India’s website, mobile application, customer contact centre and authorised travel agents. The airline says the service has been designed to make international travel more efficient, comfortable and reliable while strengthening India’s position as an emerging global aviation hub.