Air India welcomes the release of government’s Hub-and-Spoke SOP; to launch international connectivity from Varanasi

Air India welcomed the Government of India’s push to operationalise the hub-and-spoke aviation model and announced that it is preparing to launch international connectivity from Varanasi under this model.

Strategic Context
- The Government of India has released the Hub-and-Spoke Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to strengthen aviation connectivity.
- Air India welcomed the move, calling it a transformative step toward making India a global aviation hub.

Air India’s Plans
- Preparing to launch international connectivity from Varanasi, positioning it as a spoke city linked to global destinations.
- This will enhance access for passengers from surrounding Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions, cutting travel time and improving convenience.

Leadership Perspectives
- Campbell Wilson (CEO & MD, Air India): Praised the Prime Minister’s vision and the Civil Aviation Ministry’s role, highlighting efficiency, infrastructure use, and growth potential.
- P. Balaji (Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs): Emphasized expanding India’s aviation footprint beyond metros, making travel seamless for smaller cities.

Industry Impact
- Marks a shift from point-to-point travel to a global transit ecosystem, decentralizing customs and immigration to spoke locations.
- Benefits include:
- Optimized aircraft utilization
- Decongestion at major airports
- Stronger regional-global linkages

This positions Varanasi as a gateway city, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a global aviation hub.