AMRITSAR, Jul 28: The Centre plans to develop a network of 44 airports, including four major hub airports, to strengthen India’s global aviation connectivity through a hub-and-spoke model, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
The announcement came as Air India launched hub-and-spoke operations from Amritsar, making it the second spoke airport after Varanasi. Ahmedabad will be the next city to join the network. At present, Delhi is the country’s only operational hub airport.
The model aims to improve international connectivity by linking passengers from Tier-II and Tier-III cities to overseas destinations through major hubs. Travellers from smaller cities will be routed via airports such as Delhi for seamless international connections.
Speaking at the launch event at Amritsar airport, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said the government plans to establish four hub airports and 40 spoke airports as part of its long-term aviation strategy.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, in a video message, described the hub-and-spoke initiative as a step towards achieving India’s “aviation sovereignty” and creating greater opportunities for air travel. He also reiterated the government’s target of developing 100 airports and 200 heliports over the next decade.
Under the initiative, Air India has introduced its ‘Easy Connect’ service, allowing international passengers to complete baggage check-in and immigration at their departure airport before travelling through Delhi without rechecking baggage or changing terminals.
From Amritsar, the airline will operate two daily ‘Easy Connect’ flights connecting passengers to 27 international destinations, including cities in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, West Asia and Southeast Asia. Air India said the service will soon be extended to Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi and other Indian cities after its debut in Varanasi on June 25. (Agencies)
