Air India Welcomes Government Push to Operationalize Hub-And-Spoke Model

‍NEW DELHI — Today, the Indian government released hub-and-spoke Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to operationalize a new aviation model for local carriers. 

Air India (AI) welcomes the government's push and is preparing to launch international connectivity through their hub in Varanasi under the hub-and-spoke network model.

Hub-and-spoke model supporting Air India expansion

As part of its network expansion, Air India is preparing to launch international flights from Varanasi under a hub-and-spoke model, thereby strengthening the city's access to global destinations and enhancing connectivity for people in the surrounding areas.

“The introduction of international hub-and-spoke connectivity from Varanasi underscores our focus on expanding India’s global aviation footprint beyond metros. It will provide a tremendous boost to international travelers from India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities by cutting down travel time, while making travel seamless and convenient,” said P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance and Corporate Affairs at Air India.

Close cooperation delivering hub-and-spoke to the Indian aviation sector

“This is a transformative step for Indian aviation. We would like to thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister for his vision to make India a global aviation hub and develop the entire aviation ecosystem. The hub-and-spoke model will not only strengthen connectivity but also ensure optimal use of airport infrastructure developed across the country. We thank the Minister of Civil Aviation for championing the entire Hub and Spoke model, which will create a strong multiplier effect and act as a catalyst for India’s broader growth,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director at Air India.

Campbell Wilson thanked the Civil Aviation Secretary for being a key player in the implementation process, fostering close cooperation among airlines, airports, a nd government agencies.

Mr. Wilson pointed out the importance of cooperation among the involved stakeholders, ensuring that operational readiness, passenger comfort, and security considerations are addressed appropriately and promptly as the new model’s implementation nears. 

New milestone for Indian aviation

The implementation of the new network model marks a fundamental shift in India’s aviation sector from the dominance of point-to-point connections towards a global transit ecosystem.

Hub-and-spoke will help airlines improve aircraft utilization and contribute to decongestion efforts at major Indian airports by decentralizing passenger processing at spoke locations, including customs and immigration.