India launches Hub-and-Spoke Model to simplify international travel

Varanasi: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday announced the launch of India’s first ‘Hub and Spoke’ aviation model at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, aimed at making international travel easier for passengers from smaller cities.

Under the new system, travellers flying abroad can complete customs, immigration checks, and baggage clearance at their departure airport itself, eliminating the need to repeat these procedures at major transit hubs, The New Indian Express reported.

The first Air India Easy Connect flight (AI 1111), carrying 180 passengers, departed from Delhi at 9:23 am on Thursday. Naidu said the initiative would soon be expanded to six more destinations within six weeks.

Explaining the significance of the model, the minister said it would transform the way Indians access international travel by allowing passengers from smaller cities to begin overseas journeys from their hometowns with greater convenience and confidence.

Currently, passengers travelling to destinations such as the US, London, and Dubai often have to transfer through major hub airports, exit terminals with their luggage, and complete immigration and customs procedures before boarding international flights. Under the new arrangement, these steps will be completed at the originating airport, allowing smoother connections without international transit procedures.

Naidu said even small developments in aviation infrastructure could significantly transform cities by boosting employment and economic opportunities through global connectivity.

He highlighted that improved international access had already helped Indian products reach foreign markets, citing examples such as Indian litchis being exported to Italy and products from Bihar reaching Singapore and Dubai. He added that goods from Varanasi, including fruits, vegetables, silk, handloom products, and handicrafts, could now gain better access to international markets.

An aviation official explained that in this model, smaller airports function as the “spokes” connected to larger international airports, which serve as the central “hub.” Air India said it was leading a nationwide expansion programme to connect more domestic spoke cities.

The government expects the hub-and-spoke system to reduce travel hurdles for passengers from smaller cities while strengthening international connectivity and supporting local economies.