Government Plans 44 Airports For Hub And Spoke Flights

31 Jul 2026 CW Team

The government has outlined plans to establish a network of 44 airports, including four hub airports, to improve international connectivity and strengthen the aviation ecosystem. A senior official said the hub and spoke model is intended to link Tier-II and Tier-III airports with overseas destinations via major hubs. The policy aims to streamline passenger flows and reduce travel friction for those travelling from smaller cities seeking onward international connections.

Air India has launched services under the hub and spoke arrangement from Amritsar, becoming the second spoke after Varanasi and with Ahmedabad identified as the next spoke. The Civil Aviation Secretary indicated that the plan will see development of four hubs and 40 additional airports within the national network. From Amritsar the carrier will route passengers through the principal hub at Delhi to enable connections to a range of overseas destinations.

The carrier has introduced an Easy Connect service that permits through check-in and completion of immigration formalities at origin, allowing seamless transfers at the hub without rechecking baggage or changing terminals. From Amritsar the airline will offer connections to 27 international destinations via Delhi and will operate two daily Easy Connect services. The operator intends to roll out similar services from Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi and other cities in the coming weeks.

The Civil Aviation Minister described the hub and spoke model as a strategic opportunity to advance aviation sovereignty and broaden India's global linkages. The government also plans to develop 100 airports and 200 heliports over the next 10 years as part of wider infrastructure ambitions. Officials expect the network to boost international access for smaller centres and to strengthen the country's role in global aviation.

Infrastructure Urban

31 Jul 2026

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