Flying Abroad From Tier-II Cities Just Got Easier: Here's How India's New Hub-and-Spoke Model Works

Published 28 July 2026 · local

Flying Abroad From Tier-II Cities Just Got Easier: Here's How India's New Hub-and-Spoke Model Works Written By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 17:18 IST Air

Flying Abroad From Tier-II Cities Just Got Easier: Here's How India's New Hub-and-Spoke Model Works Written By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 17:18 IST Air India's Easy Connect service is bringing seamless international travel to passengers from Tier-II and Tier-III cities. Here's how it works. Flying Abroad From Tier-II Cities Just Got Easier: Here's How India's New Hub-and-Spoke Model Works For years, international travel from India’s smaller cities has involved a routine that saw you take multiple check-ins, terminal changes, long layovers and recheck baggage at major airports. That experience is now set to change. The government and Air India have begun rolling out the Hub-and-Spoke aviation model, an initiative designed to make overseas travel from Tier-II and Tier-III cities faster, smoother and far less stressful. The latest milestone came on Tuesday when Amritsar became the second spoke airport after Varanasi to join the network. With Delhi currently serving as India’s only designated hub airport, the initiative is expected to eventually expand nationwide, positioning the country as a major global aviation hub. What Is The Hub-and-Spoke Model? Think of it as a bicycle wheel. The hub is the centre—in this case, Delhi airport—while the spokes are airports in smaller cities such as Amritsar and Varanasi.

Flying abroad from a Tier-II or Tier-III Indian city often means repeating airport formalities after reaching Delhi—checking in again, re-dropping baggage and clearing immigration before boarding the international flight. The government’s new Hub-and-Spoke aviation model aims to eliminate much of that hassle by allowing eligible passengers to complete these formalities at their departure airport itself. Why Was A New System Needed? Until now, passengers flying abroad from cities like Amritsar, Lucknow or Varanasi typically travelled to Delhi as domestic flyers. After landing, they had to Collect their checked baggage. Move to the international terminal. Check in again. Drop off luggage once more. Clear immigration. Pass through customs. Undergo another security screening. The process often meant spending several hours inside the airport. Elderly passengers and families with children were particularly affected, especially when their international flights departed much later in the day. How Will It Change Your Airport Experience? Under the Hub-and-Spoke arrangement, passengers complete nearly all international travel formalities at their departure city itself. For instance, a traveller flying from Amritsar to London via Delhi can Check in luggage at Amritsar. Receive boarding passes for the entire journey.