Air India Express has launched a daily direct flight service between Pune and Amritsar, strengthening air connectivity between Maharashtra’s cultural capital and Punjab’s spiritual hub, an airline official said on Tuesday.The inaugural flight took off from Pune on June 15, marking the start of the airline’s newest domestic route. The direct service is expected to benefit leisure travellers, pilgrims, students and business passengers by cutting travel time and offering seamless access between the two cities.Under the new schedule, the flight departs Pune at 1.20 am and lands in Amritsar at 4.10 am. The return service leaves Amritsar at 5 am and arrives in Pune at 7.50 am. The service will operate daily.The launch gives travellers from Pune easier access to Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple, one of the world’s most visited pilgrimage sites. The city also attracts visitors to the Jallianwala Bagh memorial and the Attari-Wagah border ceremony, besides being known for its rich Punjabi cuisine, heritage architecture and cultural legacy.For travellers from Punjab, the new route opens a direct gateway to Pune, a major centre for education, information technology, manufacturing and entrepreneurship. The city is known for landmarks such as Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace and Sinhagad Fort, and serves as a key commercial destination in western India.With the addition of the Pune-Amritsar route, Air India Express now operates around 105 weekly flights from Pune, connecting the city with 12 destinations, including Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. From Amritsar, the airline operates 24 weekly flights, linking the city with Delhi, Dubai, Pune and Sharjah.”Passengers can book tickets, ‘Gourmair’ hot meals, Xpress Ahead priority services and other add-ons through the airline’s website, mobile application and other booking platforms,” said the airline spokesperson.”The new service is part of Air India Express’ ongoing network expansion strategy as the airline continues to strengthen connectivity across domestic and international destinations while offering enhanced travel options to passengers,” the spokesperson added.