October 14, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

The FlyAmritsar Initiative (FAI) has welcomed Qatar Airways’ latest announcement of a new three-weekly non-stop service between Toronto-Canada and Doha in Qatar and, starting on December 11, 2024.

In a joint press communique from Canada, FlyAmritsar Initiative North America Convener Anantdeep Singh Dhillon and Global Convener Sameep Singh Gumtala stated that this new route offers seamless one-stop connectivity to Amritsar. This development provides much-needed travel options for the Punjabi diaspora in Toronto, many of whom have been seeking alternatives of flying to Punjab avoiding Delhi airport altogether.

According to Dhillon, the Qatar Airways flight from Amritsar departs early in the morning at 4:10am, arriving in Doha at 6:05am. After a 3-hour 45-minute layover, passengers will board the flight from Doha for Toronto on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 9:50am, reaching Toronto the same day at 3:55pm.

The return flight departs Toronto on the same days at 8:00pm, arriving in Doha the next day at 4:30pm. Passengers will then board a connecting flight at 8:40pm, landing in Amritsar the following morning at 2:40am. The total travel time is approximately 20 hours and 10 minutes.

Dhillon remarked, “Qatar Airways has been operating daily direct flights from Amritsar since 2009, providing short transit connections via Doha to several destinations in the USA and Montreal in Canada and also providing further connectivity within Canada through codeshare with airlines in Canada.

With the introduction of this new route, Amritsar will now e connected by ten-weekly flights to Canada via Doha, offering much-needed relief for travelers who have been enduring long road journeys to Delhi, and going through extended layovers & multiple check-ins. The new route simplifies the travel experience, making it faster and more convenient.”

Gumtala highlighted Neos air as another travel option for travelers seeking to avoid Delhi airport. Neos Air connects Amritsar and Toronto via Milan, with two-weekly flights, increasing to four-weekly for the month of December 2024.

The addition of Qatar Airways flight presents another alternative for Punjabis looking to bypass the challenges associated with transit through Delhi airport, such as long immigration & security check lines, baggage delays, and extended travel times for those who commute by road and rail from Punjab to Delhi.

“While airlines like Qatar airways and Neos Air are offering valued alternatives, Air India has missed a critical opportunity to serve the Punjabi community, especially during the peak winter travel season.” Gumtala added.

“Despite a long standing demand for direct non-stop flights between Amritsar and major Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver, Air India continues to neglect this need. This forces many passengers to transit through Delhi, causing necessary inconvenience, even though 65-75% of the passengers on these flights are traveling to or from Punjab.”

Dhillon and Gumtala jointly concluded by reaffirming FlyAmritsar Initiative’s commitment to keep pushing for improved international connectivity from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport Amritsar. They said, “Our efforts don’t end here.

We will continue to engage with airlines and stakeholders to ensure that Amritsar is prioritized as a key destination for international flights. We urge airlines to recognize the massive potential that Amritsar holds and to respond to the community’s demand for direct connectivity. We also urge Punjabis to always prefer flying from the Airport.”