Amritsar: International travel from Punjab has received a significant boost as Qatar Airways officially resumed its full daily flight schedule at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. This restoration follows a challenging period of instability where services were initially scaled back to twice a week before being completely suspended in early March. The airline had halted operations as a safety precaution due to significant airspace disruptions caused by the Iran-Israel conflict. With regional geopolitical conditions now stabilizing, the carrier successfully reinstated its standard frequency during the final week of April, much to the relief of the local diaspora.
The current operational timetable sees arrivals from Doha landing in Amritsar at approximately 2:30 AM, while the return departures are scheduled for 3:30 PM. These flights serve as a vital corridor for passengers from Punjab who are travelling to major destinations across the United States, Canada, and Europe via the airline’s central hub in Doha. The daily frequency is expected to ease the backlog of travellers and provide more consistent options for those navigating long-haul international routes.
While the return of Qatar Airways is a primary highlight for the airport, the broader aviation landscape in Amritsar is seeing a mix of recovery and lingering delays. Air India Express has also resumed its daily services between Amritsar and Sharjah, offering increased accessibility for the significant number of residents heading to the Gulf countries. However, the recovery is not yet universal; IndiGo has yet to restart its Sharjah operations from the city, and some services bound for Dubai continue to face ongoing impacts or remain under review.
To further support passengers who may have been affected by the recent schedule volatility, Qatar Airways has introduced a flexible booking policy. Travellers with bookings confirmed for travel dates until October 2026 are permitted to modify their itineraries without being charged a change fee. Although passengers remain responsible for any applicable fare differences, the move is seen as a strategic effort to rebuild consumer confidence and provide a financial safety net for international commuters during a period of shifting global travel conditions.
