Mumbai, Sept. 1 -- The move extends seamless international connectivity for travellers from Gujarat while advancing India's ambition to become a leading global aviation hub.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India on Tuesday launched the hub-and-spoke initiative from Ahmedabad, making it the third airport in India after Varanasi and Amritsar to be integrated into the framework for international passenger movement.
Speaking at the launch, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said, "The expansion of hub-and-spoke operations to Ahmedabad is another step forward in our vision towards building a more connected, inclusive and globally competitive aviation ecosystem. India's aviation growth must extend beyond the major metropolitan centres and ensure that the benefits of air connectivity reach every region of the country."
Launched under Air India's 'Easy Connect' services, the move extends seamless international connectivity to travellers across Gujarat while supporting India's ambition of becoming a leading global aviation hub.
"By linking Ahmedabad with global destinations through Indian hubs, this initiative will support trade, tourism and mobility, while advancing our vision of strengthening India's role in global aviation," Naidu added.
The initiative allows international travellers from Ahmedabad to check in to their final destinations, clear immigration at Ahmedabad airport, and transfer seamlessly through Delhi without re-checking baggage or changing terminals.
Air India has designated two daily flights, AI1121 and AI1117, on the Ahmedabad-Delhi sector as Easy Connect services. Together, these flights provide onward connectivity to 26 international destinations within four hours of arrival in Delhi, including cities across the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf.
Global Connectivity
The Easy Connect initiative is part of a broader effort to encourage more international traffic to transit through Indian airports instead of overseas hubs. Of the nearly 25 million passengers who travel long-haul to and from India each year, close to 20 million are connecting travellers. Currently, around 85 per cent-approximately 17 million passengers-transit through foreign hubs rather than Indian airports. Air India is leading a phased nationwide rollout that will progressively connect more domestic spoke cities to its primary hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
P Balaji, Group Head of Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, said, "The launch of Easy Connect services from Ahmedabad is an important addition to Air India's network and to the Government of India's hub-and-spoke programme. By enabling through check-in, immigration clearance at the point of departure, and seamless transfers through Delhi, these services simplify international travel for passengers from Gujarat."
Air India will also begin inbound Easy Connect operations, enabling seamless international-to-domestic transfers via Delhi for passengers travelling onwards to Ahmedabad.
Passengers on Easy Connect flights must complete certain pre-departure and transit processes, including mandatory DigiYatra enrolment for Indian nationals. Indian passport holders connecting internationally are required to enrol in DigiYatra. Web check-in and customs declaration are not available at spoke airports.
Bookings for Easy Connect flights are available across all channels, including Air India's website, mobile app, contact centre, and travel agents.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Infrastructure Today.