India To Add Hub & Spoke Flights From 6 Cities In 6 Weeks; What Is It, Which Cities Will Benefit?

We come bearing some amazing news! India is all set to add more hub-and-spoke flights over the next six weeks from six cities. The programme aims to improve international connectivity from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through major airport hubs and reduce travel time for passengers. Here’s what this means for travellers.

Which Cities Will Be Included In The Hub & Spoke Flight Model?

Before getting into details, let us briefly tell you what hub-and-spoke flights are. It is an aviation model where an airline uses one central major airport (the hub) to connect all its smaller flights (the spokes). Instead of flying directly from a small city to every other city, a passenger first flies to the main hub and then takes a connecting flight to the final destination.

According to Moneycontrol, the first hub-and-spoke flight, operated by Air India, connects Varanasi to international destinations through New Delhi. Now, the airline is planning to add more Easy Connect flights to this model. According to NDTV, these flights will now be extended to Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Goa, Hyderabad, Chennai and other cities in the coming months. The move is expected to reduce travel time for passengers and ensure seamless connectivity between Tier-2 and Tier-3 airports and international destinations.

Also Read: NMIA To Start International Flights From July 15; Initial Operations To Serve The Gulf Region

What Are The Benefits Of These Flights?

According to Moneycontrol, hub-and-spoke flights in India will also create opportunities for trade, tourism, investment, education and business. People from smaller cities will easily reach other countries through a single, integrated and hassle-free journey. According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative will also help utilise existing infrastructure in a better way and ease congestion at major airports in India. 

Passengers arriving from smaller cities will be routed through major airport hubs like Delhi for their onward international connections. Outbound flights will carry both domestic and international transit passengers. The best part is that these passengers can complete their immigration formalities at their origin airport. They will not be required to repeat the process at the hub airport.

Also Read: IndiGo Flight Struck By Lightning At Kolkata Airport; 141 Passengers Safely Deboarded

What do you think of this new initiative? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Aflo Images (Representative Image)