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Amritsar–Dubai flights resume; IndiGo to restart Sharjah service on May 20
The restored services are expected to strengthen one of Amritsar airport’s busiest international travel corridors.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 19, May 2026
- 16:12 EDT
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FlyAmritsar Initiative / Handout
Direct flight services between Amritsar and the United Arab Emirates are gradually resuming after disruptions caused by tensions in West Asia and temporary Middle East airspace closures.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative welcomed the resumption of Amritsar–Sharjah operations by Air India Express in April and daily Amritsar–Dubai services from May 16.IndiGo is scheduled to restart Amritsar–Sharjah flights from May 20.
Also Read: FlyAmritsar, AVM urge PM Carney to push for direct Canada–Amritsar flights
Welcoming the development, Sameep Singh Gumtala, global convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, said the resumption of UAE flights is a major relief for passengers from Punjab, including workers, tourists and the Punjabi diaspora.
“These routes are the backbone of Amritsar’s international traffic, and we hope for continued stability,” Gumtala said.
The restoration comes as Indian carriers steadily resume Gulf operations that were affected earlier this year by the Iran-Israel conflict and resulting airspace restrictions in parts of West Asia.
According to the schedule shared by the group, the daily Air India Express Dubai flight departs Amritsar at 2:20 a.m. and arrives in Dubai at 4:55 a.m. The return service leaves Dubai at 5:55 a.m. and lands in Amritsar at 11:40 a.m.
For Sharjah services, IndiGo’s flight departs Amritsar at 12:15 p.m. and arrives at 2:40 p.m., while Air India Express departs at 1:15 p.m. and reaches Sharjah at 4:05 p.m. Return flights from Sharjah depart at 5:05 p.m., arriving in Amritsar at 10:45 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., respectively.
The advocacy group said UAE routes remain among the busiest international sectors from Amritsar because of strong travel demand from the Punjabi diaspora and migrant workers in the Gulf region.
The group, however, noted that SpiceJet flights to Dubai remain unavailable for booking until August. Gumtala said Amritsar had traditionally supported two daily flights each to Dubai and Sharjah because of consistently high demand.
“If SpiceJet cannot restore the route soon, we urge IndiGo or other Indian carriers to add Dubai flights to fill this gap,” he said.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative also renewed its demand for dedicated state-run bus connectivity to the airport, saying passengers continue to face transport difficulties despite the airport handling between 250,000 and 300,000 passengers every month.
“It is unfortunate that while our state government provides luxury Volvo buses and help desks to funnel travelers to Delhi Airport, it ignores the needs of Amritsar’s 10,000 daily passengers,” Gumtala said.
“Amritsar Airport remains isolated from state-run intercity bus networks. We urge the government to immediately launch bus services to link the airport with towns across Punjab to make travel affordable and convenient,” he added.
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