Abstract The flux assisted GTAW or A-TIG process developed at the Paton Welding Institute in 1960. Despite capable of offering a penetration up to 5–6 mm in a single pass weld, it could not find enough space in industrial applications, primarily due to few inherent unfavorable features: (a) two-step nature of the process, (b) poor weld-bead and (c) poor electrode life. High penetration capability of A-TIG process has fascinated researchers and renewed the research interest in last one decade. In the present work, attempts have been made to analyze and review the literature published with respect to (a) advancement of various hypotheses to explain the reasons for high penetration achieved using A-TIG, (b) effect of input process parameters related to GTAW and A-TIG, (c) effect of chemical composition and various alloying elements in steel on penetration achieved by A-TIG, (d) feasibility studies of A-TIG on ferrous and non-ferrous metals and (e) technological problems associated with A-TIG. In light of the above, the present review will help in (a) highlighting the future scope of research in A-TIG to enhance its industrial application and (b) to develop systematic understanding of various technological factors determining the capability of this process.