Toronto, Vancouver, Amritsar, February 28, 2026(Yes Punjab News)
As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins his first official visit to India, the FlyAmritsar Initiative—a global civil society campaign advocating for better air connectivity to the region—and the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) are urgently calling on him to include direct air connectivity to Amritsar in his high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The organizations advocate that establishing direct non-stop flights from Toronto and Vancouver to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) in Amritsar is a vital step in strengthening the Canada–India “people-to-people” bridge. Such a route would serve over one million Canadians of Punjabi origin and a growing number of international students and business travelers.
It would also directly connect the diaspora to Sri Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple), one of the world’s most visited spiritual destinations, sparing travelers the grueling 25–35-hour journeys involving long layovers in Delhi.
In a joint statement, Anantdeep Singh Dhillon, Convener (North America) for the FlyAmritsar Initiative, and Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener of the Initiative and Overseas Secretary of AVM, said: “Prime Minister Carney’s visit represents a reset in bilateral relations. There is no more practical, people-focused outcome than addressing the longest-standing travel demand of the Punjabi diaspora. Direct flights are no longer just a convenience; they are a necessity for trade, education, and family ties.”
The demand has historically seen immense bipartisan support in Canada. In recent years, a parliamentary e-petition initiated by Mohit Dhanju of the FlyAmritsar Initiative and sponsored by Conservative MP Brad Vis garnered over 20,000 signatures in just 30 days.
The issue has also been strongly championed across the aisle by leaders including Liberal MP and Minister Ruby Sahota. While diplomatic tensions in 2024 temporarily slowed advocacy, the current normalization of ties offers a fresh window to finalize this community-driven priority.
A key focus of the requested dialogue is navigating the current aviation framework. Under the existing Canada-India air services agreement, Indian airlines enjoy “open skies” access to fly into Canada from any Indian city. In contrast, Canadian carriers are restricted to operating flights to only six major Indian metros, a list that currently excludes Amritsar.
“With Air India set to increase Toronto frequencies to 10 weekly flights this April, the market demand is undeniable,” said Gumtala. “However, because Canadian airlines currently lack the bilateral rights to fly directly to Amritsar, the immediate solution lies with Indian carriers. We urge Prime Minister Carney to raise this in his talks with the Indian government, strongly advocating for airlines like Air India to commence direct Canada-Amritsar flights, or alternatively, to negotiate expanded access for Canadian carriers.”
The FlyAmritsar Initiative and AVM are calling on Canadian Members of Parliament of all backgrounds—especially those of Punjabi origin—to publicly voice their support to ensure the issue is placed on the bilateral agenda.
“Connecting families and enabling tourism to the Golden Temple should be a unifying, non-partisan priority,” added Dhillon. “We hope this becomes a signature highlight of the Carney-Modi dialogue.”
FOLLOW NOW
