Big Relief for Punjab Flyers: Direct Amritsar-Dubai flights resume
IndiGo to restart Sharjah Service from May 20
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), May 18, 2026: International flight connectivity from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport has started returning to normal as airlines resume services to key destinations in the United Arab Emirates following earlier disruptions caused by tensions and airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East.
Welcoming the development, FlyAmritsar Initiative said direct flights between Amritsar and Dubai have resumed, while IndiGo Airlines will restart its Amritsar-Sharjah service from May 20.
Sharing the information, Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, said international airlines are gradually restoring schedules as the regional airspace situation stabilises.
According to the initiative, Air India Express resumed its daily Amritsar-Dubai service from May 16 after previously restarting flights between Amritsar and Sharjah in April. Meanwhile, IndiGo Airlines will restart direct flights between Amritsar and Sharjah from May 20.
Air India Express’s Dubai flight departs Amritsar at 2:20 PM and reaches Dubai at 4:55 PM local time. The return flight leaves Dubai at 5:55 AM and lands in Amritsar at 11:40 AM.
For Sharjah services, IndiGo’s flight departs from Amritsar at 12:15 PM and arrives in Sharjah at 2:40 PM, while Air India Express departs at 1:15 PM and lands at 4:05 PM. Both return flights leave Sharjah around 5 PM and arrive in Amritsar later in the evening.
Gumtala described the restoration of flights as a major relief for Punjabi migrants, workers, businessmen and tourists travelling to the Gulf region. He said the Dubai and Sharjah sectors form the backbone of international passenger traffic from Amritsar.
However, the initiative raised concerns over the continued absence of SpiceJet flights on the Amritsar-Dubai route, noting that bookings for the service are reportedly unavailable until August. Gumtala urged the airline to resume operations soon, adding that if the flights are not restored, other Indian carriers should step in to fill the gap.
The FlyAmritsar Initiative also criticised the Punjab government over the lack of direct government bus connectivity to Amritsar airport. Gumtala said the airport handles nearly 2.5 to 3 lakh passengers every month, but travellers still do not have access to a dedicated intercity government bus network.
He alleged that while luxury Volvo bus services and help desks have been introduced for passengers travelling to Delhi Airport, similar facilities are not available for travellers using Amritsar Airport.
The initiative appealed to the state government to immediately launch direct bus services from major Punjab cities to the airport to make travel easier and more affordable for passengers.