Amritsar Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Intl Airport (ATQ) Flights & Flight Status

Amritsar Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Intl Airport (airport code: ATQ) in northwestern India is an important destination for the Sikh religion, and therefore, its airport sees busy traffic with both regional travellers and tourists coming to visit Punjab’s important sites. While its airport has evolved and modernised over the years, it still does not match the expansive standards of India’s newer airports in larger cities. Named after the fourth Sikh Guru and founder of the city of Amritsar, this airport has no hub carrier, instead relying on a mix of traditional and low-fare airlines. Here’s how to get around this small, but growing airport.

One, easy-to-navigate terminal

The new airport terminal is only a few decades old and has seen significant improvement in recent years. This has included modernising the terminal building to combine domestic and international departures, constructing a new air traffic control tower to improve operations and extending the runway to allow larger aircraft to fly farther distances.

Wrapped in walls of glass, the building serves both international and domestic cities. Its architectural style includes a few Indian touches like dramatic arches and colour patterns, plus strong air conditioning and plenty of power outlets.

What is disappointing, however, is the limited number of jet bridges, which are usually used by larger aircraft. Instead, most passengers, especially on low-cost airlines, disembark on the apron and travel by bus or on foot to the terminal. This can be really uncomfortable in the hot summer months.

It also makes the airport much less user-friendly to passengers with disabilities or mobility challenges. If travelling with children and strollers, consider this potential delay while navigating the airport.

Airport amenities

As one of the fastest growing airports in India, the number of amenities has also been improving. There is a mix of Indian and international food and beverage outlets as well as various duty-free and souvenir stores.

I like to use up any remaining rupee I have at the handicraft stores for gifts to bring home. You can find decent deals on silk products and colourful sarees here, but always ask to check the quality first. Bargaining at an established store (versus in a local market) is less common unless you are buying a large amount, but it is always worth a try (especially since airport prices can be inflated).

And the range of restaurants includes everything from Costa for decent coffee to Indian fast-food outlets, and even Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Currency exchange offices are available in the landside area of the airport, but I recommend using a bank-operated ATM instead to secure the most favourable rate. I have also had no problem using my credit card at restaurants, but you will still need to exchange local currency if visiting the main tourist sites.

On the landside of the airport, there is a free station to check the weight of your bag, which is cool. Airside, I was impressed with the mobile charging stations that have cables for a variety of personal devices. The airport also has free Wi-Fi, but I found the signal to be spotty.

In some areas, there are cushioned benches where you can lie down for rest. There is no airport hotel directly inside or connected to the terminal, however.

Airport lounges

There is one premium lounge, the Primus Lounge, on the domestic side of the terminal, and it is accessible via Priority Pass. Check your credit card to see if it comes with Priority Pass membership, which can unlock numerous free visits to airport lounges and restaurants.

Unfortunately, the lounge has only limited food and beverage options, and most items carry a surcharge (like hot dishes and alcoholic drinks). That seems like one of the main reasons people visit a lounge so the cost is irritating, but I do appreciate the quieter space to work or relax though.

If you have Priority Pass, there are several restaurants or coffee shops in the terminal that provide a credit to cardholders so that you can order a bite to eat or refreshment. Another premium lounge is on the international side of the airport, but it also has a paid menu for drinks and most snacks.

Limited route network

Despite efforts to expand and grow the facility, there are still very few long-haul flights here. Instead, most traffic is by domestic carriers flying to different parts of India. Flights to major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai are most frequent, and from those cities, travellers can fly farther afield.

The most notable flights here are Air India’s nonstop flights to Birmingham and London Gatwick in the United Kingdom and Qatar Airways’ nonstop service to Doha. Both of these services allow for onward connections by linking Amritsar to global hubs.

Leisure Italian airline Neos has started flying from Amritsar to several cities in Italy, but these mostly cater to tourists and are not operated on a daily basis. Following Neos’ success, SpiceJet has added its own flights to Italy.

To the southeast, Oneworld carrier Malaysia Airlines connects travellers to its Kuala Lumpur hub, and Scoot flies to Singapore, where passengers can connect to other Scoot or sibling Singapore Airlines flights.

In addition to the numerous domestic airlines, there has been a growing number of low-cost airlines linking the airport with their respective hubs. These include Air Asia, Thai Lion Air and IndiGo (the latter is the busiest carrier at the airport.

How to get to Amritsar airport

Taxi and rideshare services are the most convenient way to reach the airport. These are incredibly cheap by Western standards. For late-night or early-morning arrivals and departures, I find it helpful though to rely on my hotel to reserve a transfer so there is no doubt about finding a car when time is of the essence.

While I recommend a rideshare service like Uber because you can confirm the fare in advance and keep an eye on your journey via the app, taxis are an option. It is best to book a prepaid taxi via the dedicated booth in the arrivals area to lock in a price (and even pay by credit card). This may not be the cheapest option, but it is the most reliable.

There used to be a bus service that ran to the airport, but it is no longer a reliable method to reach town. I would not recommend it anyway with luggage, and English is not widely spoken among bus drivers.

Amritsar is soon to be linked by an expressway to Delhi that will cut the transfer time to four hours by car. This will lessen the reliance of some travellers on taking a domestic flight from Amritsar’s airport to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport if people opt to drive to the capital rather than make a connection.

Some key recommendations

As modern as this airport is, I recommend sticking to bottled water and avoiding fresh fruit or salad that has been washed in local water. Before getting on an aeroplane, it is wise to use caution as water and health standards may be different from what you are used to from home. This also applies to your time in India, in general.

The airport is not set up for convenient connections between flights as it is not a hub airport. Still, there are travellers that arrive on Air India’s United Kingdom flights and change planes to a domestic flight.

It is important to allow plenty of time and also to have your onward connection details printed out. Security will probably ask to see this at various points during your transit, and it will be important to show at check-in for your first flight since many travellers need a visa to enter India. If you are immediately transiting, this is typically not necessary.

I have made this connection before, and I immediately sought out an Air India representative upon landing. You might need someone to walk you through the transit side of the airport, as sometimes international arrivals are funnelled directly to immigration.

Nearby tourist sites

If you are short on time, the Golden Temple is about 20 minutes by car from the airport and is worth a visit. Remember that you will have to wear a head covering and remove your shoes, but the scenery is spectacular, especially at sunset. I have flown to Amritsar on a day trip from Delhi and been able to see a lot in a short span of time.

Another unique experience is the Wagah Border ceremony, along the Indian-Pakistani border, just a short drive from town. You can take an Uber to get there or even hire a local tour guide if you arrange it in advance. They can pick you up and drive you wherever you want to go.

Guards on either side of the border, dressed in traditional costumes, shout and parade in dramatic fashion. The battle calls remind guests of the intense rivalry between the two nations, but these days, the changing of the guards ceremony has become a tourist attraction.