Fly Abroad with Less Hassle: Govt Rolls Out 44-Airport Hub-and-Spoke Network

Travelling overseas from India's smaller cities could soon become far more convenient as the Central government plans to bring 44 airports under the Hub-and-Spoke aviation model, a major initiative aimed at strengthening international air connectivity and transforming India into a global aviation hub.

Speaking at the launch of Air India's 'Easy Connect' service in Amritsar, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said the government plans to develop four hub airports and 40 spoke airports across the country. At present, Delhi serves as the only hub, while Varanasi and Amritsar are operational spoke airports. Ahmedabad will be the next city to join the network, with Goa, Kochi, and several other cities expected to be added in the coming weeks.

The Hub-and-Spoke model works by linking smaller regional airports, known as spokes, to major hub airports that operate international flights. Instead of every city having direct overseas services, passengers first travel to a hub airport before boarding their international flight through a seamless transfer. Under this system, travellers can check in their baggage and complete immigration formalities at their departure airport itself. Once they reach the hub airport, they only need to clear security before boarding their international flight, eliminating the need to collect baggage, repeat immigration checks, or change terminals. The model is expected to significantly improve connectivity for Tier-II and Tier-III cities, reduce travel time, simplify airport procedures, and enable airlines to operate international services more efficiently.

From Amritsar, Air India has launched two daily 'Easy Connect' flights, allowing passengers to connect to 27 international destinations via Delhi within four hours of arrival. These include cities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, West Asia, and Southeast Asia. Earlier, the airline introduced the country's first Easy Connect service from Varanasi on June 25, and similar services will soon begin from Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, and other Indian cities.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu described the initiative as an " aviation sovereignty " and " opportunity " model for India, saying it will strengthen the country's position as a global aviation hub. He also reiterated the government's ambitious target of developing 100 airports and 200 heliports over the next decade to meet the growing demand for air travel.

The economic impact of the project is expected to be substantial. Studies conducted by the Civil Aviation Ministry estimate that hub operations could generate around 400,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing USD 30 billion to India's economy by 2030. Looking further ahead, the cumulative impact by 2047 is projected to support nearly 16 million jobs and add around USD 1.4 trillion to the national economy.

According to government estimates, nearly 1.5 lakh passengers travel from Amritsar to Delhi every year to catch international flights, while a similar number arrive in Amritsar via Delhi from overseas. Initially, around 250 passengers every day from Amritsar alone are expected to benefit from the Hub-and-Spoke model. As more spoke airports are added to the network, the system is expected to serve around 1,200 passengers daily, or nearly 4.5 lakh travellers annually, making international travel more accessible and hassle-free for people across regional India.