India has launched its first domestic hub-and-spoke international connectivity network, introducing a new operating model that enables passengers from regional cities to complete international travel formalities at their origin airport before connecting through major aviation hubs.
The first Air India Easy Connect service commenced from Varanasi on Thursday, allowing international passengers to check in baggage, complete immigration procedures and receive boarding passes for their onward overseas journey before departing from their home airport.
According to NDTV, the initiative forms a key part of the government's long-term strategy to establish India as a global aviation hub by 2047 while improving international connectivity from Tier II and Tier III cities.
The inaugural Easy Connect service, AI1111, departed from Varanasi with a full complement of 180 passengers, according to NDTV, which travelled onboard the first flight.
The service connects passengers through Delhi, where they can proceed directly to the international departure area without repeating baggage check-in or immigration formalities.
Passengers on the inaugural flight were travelling onwards to destinations including:
Overall, the Varanasi service provides onward connectivity to 17 international destinations across Air India's network, including London, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Vienna, Copenhagen, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.
The schedule has been designed to provide onward international connections within four hours of arrival in Delhi.
The hub-and-spoke model links regional airports, known as spokes, with major domestic aviation hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata.
Under the new operating model, passengers travelling internationally no longer need to repeat several procedures during transit at the hub airport.
Key features include:
For arriving international passengers, immigration and customs clearance will continue to be completed at the final destination airport.
Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said the network will expand rapidly, with services from six additional cities expected within the next six weeks.
Speaking to NDTV, the minister identified Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Patna and one location in western India among the cities being considered as future spoke airports.
He said the government's long-term objective is to connect every international airport in the country to a major aviation hub, creating seamless onward international connectivity across regions.
Air India also plans to expand Easy Connect services to additional cities including:
The airline has introduced a dedicated AI11XX flight series to identify Easy Connect services as the network grows.
The initiative is expected to extend beyond Air India.
According to the Civil Aviation Minister, IndiGo plans to join the programme through Mumbai Airport once standard operating procedures are finalised.
The minister said services under the new model could begin later this month.
Participation by multiple airlines would significantly expand the reach of the hub-and-spoke network and increase international connectivity options from regional airports.
The government views the programme as a strategic aviation initiative aimed at strengthening India's role in international air transport.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, approximately 35% of international passengers travelling from India currently transit through overseas hubs such as Dubai, Singapore and London.
The hub-and-spoke strategy seeks to retain more of this traffic within India by routing international passengers through domestic hubs instead of foreign airports.
Officials also believe India's geographical position between Europe and East Asia provides a natural advantage for developing into a major global transit centre.
According to the government, the strategy is expected to:
The government has positioned the initiative as part of its wider aviation roadmap leading up to 2047.
Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said the programme is expected to improve regional connectivity while supporting investment and employment.
In a message released during the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the commencement of hub-and-spoke international operations as a "historic milestone", stating that improved international connectivity would support trade, tourism, investment, education and business while contributing to regional development.
According to Ministry of Civil Aviation estimates cited by NDTV, the long-term strategy could generate around 16 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute nearly USD 1.4 trillion to India's economy by 2047.
Join the conversation
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!
Sign In to Comment