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Diaspora welcomes return of Amritsar–London flights
The return of the Gatwick flight has seen strong passenger demand, with the inaugural services operating at full capacity.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 30, Oct 2025
- 11:49 EDT
- 28
Amritsar London Birmingham Map / Great Circle Mapper
The Punjabi diaspora and advocacy groups welcomed the restoration of direct air connectivity between Punjab and the United Kingdom after Air India resumed its Amritsar–London Gatwick service following a five-month suspension.
The route had been halted in June after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. The airline suspended several international operations for safety checks before gradually reinstating routes.
Also Read: International connectivity increases to Amritsar airport
The first Amritsar–London flight departed on Oct. 29 from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, while the return flight from London landed in Amritsar on Oct. 30.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative (FAI) and Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM), represented by FAI global convener Sameep Singh Gumtala and AVM secretary Yogesh Kamra, described the service as a vital link for travelers and the diaspora in the United Kingdom.
“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,” they said in a joint statement.
They urged Air India to expand the service to daily operations and enhance its cargo facilities. “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,” the statement said.
Members of the Punjabi diaspora in North America, including Gumtala, a resident of the United States, also expressed hope that Air India will increase the frequency of flights and develop one-stop connections via London or Birmingham to destinations such as Toronto, Vancouver, and other cities across North America and Europe.
Under the current schedule, the flight operates three times a week — on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays — departing Amritsar at 12:35 p.m. and arriving in London at 6:00 p.m. The return flight leaves Gatwick at 8:00 p.m. and lands in Amritsar at 11:20 a.m. the following day.
Because of Pakistan’s airspace restrictions, the journey takes about one and a half to two hours longer than usual. The airline continues to operate its Amritsar–Birmingham service three times a week.
In a July statement, Air India said the suspension was a precautionary measure to ensure compliance with safety standards before restoring international operations. The Amritsar–London Gatwick route is among those reinstated as part of this phased review.
The return of the Gatwick flight has seen strong passenger demand, with the inaugural services operating at full capacity. The route remains significant for the large Punjabi community in the UK — particularly in London, Birmingham, and Leicester — who have long sought uninterrupted direct connectivity to Amritsar.
Between 2017 and 2019, the FlyAmritsar Initiative, Amritsar Vikas Manch, Seva Trust UK, and several NGOs had campaigned for direct flights between Punjab and the UK, which led to Air India launching the Amritsar–London Stansted route in November 2019.
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