New Hub-and-Spoke Model Aims to Transform Global Connectivity for Millions of Indian Travellers
In a landmark development for India’s aviation sector, Air India has launched its first ‘Easy Connect’ flight under the Government of India’s newly introduced hub-and-spoke framework, marking a significant step towards redefining international travel accessibility for passengers across the country.
The inaugural service, flight AI1111, departed from Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, officially operationalising the government’s vision of creating a more integrated, efficient, and globally competitive aviation ecosystem. The initiative is designed to enable travellers from non-metro and emerging cities to seamlessly access international destinations through major Indian hubs, eliminating the need to transit through foreign airports.
The launch ceremony was led by Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, who described the initiative as a transformative moment for Indian aviation.
“Today we take a major step forward towards realising our vision of making air travel more accessible and building a future-ready, self-reliant Indian aviation industry that is efficient, inclusive, and globally competitive. Our new hub-and-spoke model paves the way for a monumental shift in how our citizens travel—where regardless of the city one lives in India, one can begin their international journey from their home city and travel across the globe with ease and confidence, on India’s own wings,” he said.
Varanasi Becomes the First Spoke City
The inaugural Easy Connect flight connected Varanasi with Delhi, enabling international passengers to seamlessly continue their journeys onward to destinations including Dubai, Colombo, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kathmandu and Phuket.
Passengers travelling on the service benefitted from a streamlined travel process that included through check-in to their final international destination, baggage transfer without re-checking, and immigration clearance completed at the origin airport rather than at the hub.
The launch event also witnessed the presentation of a commemorative boarding pass to the first passenger checking in for the inaugural flight. Senior government officials and aviation industry leaders in attendance included Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Puneet Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India; Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India; and P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India.
Nationwide Expansion Planned
As the first airline to operationalise the hub-and-spoke model, Air India is embarking on a phased nationwide rollout that will extend the Easy Connect concept beyond Varanasi.
Over the coming months, the airline plans to introduce services from 11 additional cities, including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Patna, Vadodara and Visakhapatnam.
These spoke cities will connect seamlessly through Air India’s major hubs in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, enabling travellers from across India to access an extensive international network with significantly greater convenience.
The initiative is expected to play a crucial role in democratising international travel, particularly for passengers residing outside India’s major metropolitan centres.
Reducing Dependence on Overseas Transit Hubs
According to Air India, the introduction of Easy Connect services addresses a long-standing challenge within Indian aviation.
Nearly 25 million passengers travel on long-haul international routes to and from India every year. Of these, approximately 20 million are connecting passengers, and nearly 85 percent currently transit through foreign hubs rather than Indian airports.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative.
“India is a major force in global aviation, and yet, for decades a meaningful share of Indian travellers flying abroad have routed their journeys through overseas transit points—often at the cost of comfort and convenience. Air India’s Easy Connect flights are a response to that reality, and we are grateful to the Government of India for its vision and support in enabling this framework,” Wilson said.
He added that the new system empowers travellers from cities such as Varanasi, Amritsar and Visakhapatnam to begin their international journeys within India’s own aviation ecosystem, offering a more comfortable and familiar travel experience.
Simplifying the International Travel Experience
The Easy Connect model has been designed to significantly reduce travel complexity and improve passenger convenience.
Key features include:
Through check-in from the origin city to the final international destination.
Immigration formalities completed at the departure airport.
Seamless transit through major Indian hubs without baggage re-check.
Reduced connection stress and shorter transit procedures.
Enhanced passenger experience through integrated domestic and international journeys.
For Indian nationals, participation requires enrolment in the DigiYatra platform and uploading boarding passes before departure. Passengers are also required to comply with specified transit procedures to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Strengthening India’s Position as a Global Aviation Hub
The launch of Easy Connect aligns closely with the Government of India’s broader objective of positioning Indian airports as preferred international transit gateways.
By increasing passenger flows through domestic hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, the initiative is expected to boost airport utilisation, support airline growth and strengthen India’s role within the global aviation network.
The Varanasi-Delhi Easy Connect service currently offers connections to 17 international destinations within four hours of arrival in Delhi, including major global cities such as London, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, Zurich, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah.
As additional spoke cities are integrated into the programme, the network is expected to provide millions of Indian travellers with easier access to international destinations while simultaneously enhancing the competitiveness of India’s aviation sector.
With the launch of Easy Connect, Air India and the Government of India have taken a decisive step towards reshaping the country’s international travel landscape—bringing the world closer to every Indian and strengthening India’s emergence as a major global aviation hub.
