Every NRI planning a trip home asks the same question at some point while booking flights: should I fly into Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, or is there now a Ludhiana option? The honest answer depends on where you're flying from and which part of Punjab you're going to. This guide breaks it down by region so you can book the right flight the first time.
Quick answer: If you're coming from the UK, Amritsar (ATQ) often has you covered with a direct flight. From Canada or the US, you'll almost always route through Delhi. From the Gulf, either Amritsar or Chandigarh works. And if you live near Ludhiana, the new Halwara airport is closest for domestic travel, though you'll still need Delhi or Amritsar for international flights for now.
Why does the airport choice matter so much?
Because the last leg of your journey — the road transfer to your village or city — can swing by hours depending on which airport you land at. Landing at the "wrong" airport for your route can mean an extra 3-4 hours in a taxi after an already long flight. We've been driving families between these airports and their homes across Punjab since 1980, from our base in Ludhiana, so we see this trade-off play out every week.
What flies into Amritsar Airport (ATQ)?
Amritsar's Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Raja Sansi has a single terminal but a genuinely useful set of direct international connections for Punjabi families.
- Air India AI169: Amritsar to London Gatwick, nonstop, roughly 3 times a week
- Air India AI117: Amritsar to Birmingham, nonstop, roughly 3 times a week
- Based on route-mapping data (treat as approximate, not fully confirmed): Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Doha (Qatar Airways), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur
There is currently no confirmed direct flight from Canada to Amritsar. A same-plane option via Milan on Neos ended on 8 October 2025, so Canadian travellers today are routing either via Doha (Qatar Airways) or via Delhi (Air India).
What is Air India's new Easy Connect at Amritsar?
Launched on 28 July 2026, Easy Connect lets passengers flying out of Amritsar clear Indian immigration right there at ATQ and then connect through Delhi as an international transfer, without changing terminals in Delhi. It currently covers 27 international destinations through two key departures:
| Flight | Departs ATQ | Arrives Delhi | Typical onward connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI1113 | 09:10 | 10:40 | Europe |
| AI1115 | 22:00 | 23:20 | JFK, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Melbourne, Sydney and others |
Indian passport holders need to be enrolled in DigiYatra to use this. As of our last check, an inbound version of Easy Connect (clearing immigration the other direction on arrival) was expected within about two months of the July 2026 launch — worth asking your airline whether it's live by the time you travel.
What flies into Chandigarh Airport (IXC)?
Chandigarh's international flights are, based on secondary sources, primarily Gulf routes:
- Dubai and Sharjah on IndiGo
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Air India Express
- Sharjah on Air Arabia
This makes Chandigarh a strong choice if you're coming from the UAE and your family is based in or near Chandigarh, Mohali, or Patiala.
What about the new Halwara (Ludhiana) airport?
Ludhiana Halwara International Airport (IATA: HWR) was inaugurated on 1 February 2026, with commercial flights starting 15 May 2026. Air India flies Delhi–Halwara twice daily. It sits about 32 km from Ludhiana city, which makes it the closest airport for Ludhiana residents by a wide margin.
The catch: Halwara is currently domestic-only. It connects you to Delhi, from where you'd take an international flight — it isn't yet a direct-international gateway itself. For now, Ludhiana-area families flying internationally still generally go through Delhi IGI or Amritsar ATQ.
Which airport should I actually pick?
| Flying from | Best airport option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| UK / Europe | Amritsar (ATQ) | Often the most direct route, with nonstop Gatwick and Birmingham flights |
| Canada / USA | Via Delhi (IGI) | No direct flight yet; ask about Easy Connect at Amritsar as an alternative |
| Gulf (UAE, Qatar) | Chandigarh (IXC) or Amritsar (ATQ) | Both have solid Gulf connections |
| Ludhiana locals, domestic only | Halwara (HWR) | Closest airport at 32 km, but no international flights yet |
How far is each airport from where I'm actually going?
Once you've picked your arrival airport, the next question is the road transfer. We run fixed, pre-bookable fares from Delhi IGI to the main Punjab cities, and we quote Amritsar and Chandigarh transfers directly over WhatsApp since those routes vary more by exact pickup point.
FAQ
Q: Is Amritsar airport closer to Ludhiana than Delhi? A: Amritsar is roughly 150 km from Ludhiana, while Delhi is about 316 km. Amritsar is closer, but Delhi has far more flight options, so many travellers still choose Delhi for the wider choice of international connections.
Q: Can I fly directly from Canada to Amritsar? A: Not currently. There's no confirmed direct Canada–Amritsar flight as of our last check. Most Canadian travellers route via Doha or via Delhi.
Q: Is Halwara airport useful for NRIs? A: It's useful if your final destination is Delhi for a domestic hop, but since it has no international flights yet, NRIs flying from abroad will still land at Delhi, Amritsar, or occasionally Chandigarh.
Q: Does Punjab Taxi Co pick up from all these airports? A: Yes. We run transfers from Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh airports, as well as local hire around Ludhiana, and we've done this family-run business since 1980.
Whichever airport you land at, pre-book your taxi on WhatsApp with your flight number so we can track it and have a driver waiting. For fixed Delhi airport fares, see our Delhi Airport to Punjab page, or check our Amritsar Airport taxi and Chandigarh Airport taxi services, plus our Ludhiana taxi service for local and Halwara transfers.