(Asian independent) Passengers from Punjab and the Punjabi diaspora now have even more flight options to Canada, as Qatar Airways has increased its Doha–Toronto operations to daily, effective October 26, further enhancing one-stop connectivity from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar.
In a joint press statement, Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, and Anantdeep Singh Dhillon, Convener (North America), shared that this expanded schedule marks an important step for travelers flying between Punjab and Canada, especially following the suspension of Neos Air’s Amritsar–Toronto service via Milan earlier this month.
They noted that with this change, passengers traveling from Amritsar will now enjoy daily one-stop connections to Toronto via Doha, while continuing to access Montreal and over 100 global destinations through Qatar Airways’ extensive international network. The airline, which launched its Doha–Toronto route with three weekly flights in December 2024 and increased to five in June 2025, has now made it a daily service—a clear sign of sustained demand.
Gumtala emphasized that this development brings greater convenience and flexibility for travelers from Toronto. “Qatar Airways’ daily Amritsar–Doha flights already connect Punjabis to North America, Europe, and Australia with world-class service and reliability. The expansion of daily Doha–Toronto flights now give passengers more choices, especially during peak winter travel periods, while avoiding the congestion, long queues, and baggage recheck hassles often faced at Delhi Airport,” he said.
Highlighting the wider connectivity challenges, Gumtala added, “While airlines like Qatar Airways are ready to expand connectivity through Amritsar, Indian long-haul carriers such as Air India and IndiGo have yet to start direct flights from Amritsar to key international destinations with large Punjabi populations like Toronto, Vancouver, Milan, and Rome. The Government of India must adopt a more open and regionally balanced aviation policy to support Amritsar and Punjab.”
Dhillon explained that despite strong passenger demand, Qatar Airways continues to face capacity restrictions under the India–Qatar bilateral air services agreement, which allows the carrier to transport only around 1,259 passengers each way per week from Amritsar. “The consistently full flights and high demand often drives up fares and clearly show the need for more capacity and liberalized policies,” he said.
Dhillon further emphasized the need for more liberal policies “Amritsar is Punjab’s only major international gateway, and the demand for global connectivity continues to rise. Yet, airlines such as Emirates, Etihad from UAE, and other middle east countries remain restricted from operating from Amritsar due to India’s current policy barriers. Opening Amritsar to these carriers would expand travel options, boost tourism and trade, and strengthen Punjab’s ties with the global diaspora.”
For media inquiries, contact:
Sameep Singh Gumtala
Global Convener, FlyAmritsar Initiative, Overseas Secretary, Amritsar Vikas Manch (NGO) Dayton, Ohio, USA
Email: [email protected]
Ph.: +1-937-654-8873 (Cell & WhatsApp)
Anantdeep Singh Dhillon
Convener (North America), FlyAmritsar Initiative ,Joint Overseas Secretary, Amritsar Vikas Manch Victoria, B.C, Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-250-516-3913
