Canadian MP’s demands for direct flights to Amritsar from Canada

• Amristar – the land of Saints & Martyrs

Amritsar, a busy city with an irrepressible spirit, is home to the Golden Temple, one of the holiest in the Sikh religion. Covered in 400 kg of gold and surrounded by a tranquil Sarovar (pond), the gleaming edifice is also home to one of the country’s largest communal kitchens (langar), which serves over 20,000 people each day.

Though international visitors particularly Canadians coming via flights to Amritsar from Canada generally rush to the temple, the city’s old-world beauty gradually catches up with them, letting them fall in love with a city buzzing with energetic and colorful subtleties.

Furthermore, the city is well-known for its food pilgrimage, which takes place in its frenetic and fantastic bazaars, which captivate you with their diversity and vibrancy. The city’s food is bursting with flavors and aromas, from butter-drenched paranthas (Indian flatbread) to creamy lassi (yogurt drink), Dahi-Balla, and Aloo-Tikki (deep-fried savories). What makes a visit to the city truly unforgettable via affordable flights from Canada to India, however, is the warmth of its people.

• Canada and Punjab – A never-ending love affair

Why shouldn’t Canada be referred to as “mini-Punjab”? It is well known that many Indians have lived in Canada for many years and have developed a strong sense of community there. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau boasted in 2015 that he had more Sikhs in his cabinet than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He’s also been spotted performing the Bhangra, preparing meals in gurdwaras, and celebrating other Indian festivals.

What’s the reason behind this? Because Indians constitute a sizable proportion of the Canadian population, he must acknowledge them to achieve inclusive economic growth that reflects the diversity of his country. Many people see the country as having clean roads, great facilities, and free medical services.

According to estimates, up to five lakh travelers travel annually from India to Toronto, and the vast majority of them are Punjabis. The MPs argued that “direct flights between Canada and Amritsar will symbiotically boost tourism, and trade, and enable families to stay linked.” There are currently no direct flights to Amritsar from Canada.

• Canadian MPs to request direct flights b/w Amristar & Canada

Given the demographic dominance of Sikhs and Punjabis in Canada, Conservative MPs have urged the country’s flag carrier to establish direct flights between their country and the state of Punjab.

MPs Tim Uppal, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Bradley Vis, and Mark Strahl wrote to Air Canada asking for direct flights between Canada and Amritsar to boost tourism and allow families to stay connected. “As Canadian Members of Parliament representing vast and diverse communities, we write to emphasize the significant economic and social value of establishing direct flights between Canada and the state of Punjab,” the MPs wrote last week.

• Open skies agreement b/w Canada & India

Canada recently announced an expanded air transport agreement with India, allowing designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries with economical flights from Canada to India. Despite passenger requests from both sides, the agreement grants Canadian airlines access to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, except Amritsar. According to the 2021 census, there are approximately 950,000 Punjabis in Canada, accounting for roughly 2.6 percent of the country’s population.

In India, MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, asking him to start direct flights from Toronto to India, Vancouver, and Montreal to Amritsar and Mohali airports.

• The reason behind this statement

Many of these families have direct ties to family, friends, and businesses in Punjab. India is Canada’s fourth-largest international airport market, and hundreds of thousands of Punjabis visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar each year via flights to Amritsar from Canada. According to the letter, over 14,000 Canadian citizens and permanent residents signed an official parliamentary petition this year calling for the creation of a direct flight from Canada to Amritsar. According to the MPs, the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for direct flights from Amritsar to Canada.

During the initial pandemic lockdown, when 30,000 Canadians were in India, border closures and flight cancellations forced the federal government to implement 37 repatriation flights, many of which flew directly from Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport to Pearson International Airport in Toronto. “The epidemic has shown us that direct flights from Amritsar to Canada are both viable for airlines and meet a strong demand for travelers,” the letter stated.

“For years, many of my constituents and Canadians have asked for flights like these. This will provide access to direct flights for our seniors, those in greatest need, and parents of small children “One of the letter’s signatories, MP Hallan, posted on Twitter. According to media reports, Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has discussed the matter with his Indian counterparts.