From your home city to the world: Air India introduces ‘Easy Connect’ flights, leads rollout from Varanasi on 25 June

Air India opened bookings for its first flights under the Government of India’s hub-and-spoke model, introducing these as ‘Easy Connect’ flights, and enabling travellers from cities beyond major hubs to drop baggage and complete immigration at origin airport and travel seamlessly to destinations across the world.

Launch details:
Daily flight AI1111 from Varanasi to Delhi starts 25 June 2026, timed to connect within four hours to 17 international destinations including London, Frankfurt, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Manila, Singapore, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh, and Dubai.

Hub‑and‑spoke model:
- Spoke cities (like Varanasi) link to hub airports (Delhi).
- Through check‑in: baggage checked all the way to final destination.
- Immigration at origin: passengers clear international formalities at their home airport.
- Seamless transit: travelers move through Delhi as international passengers, avoiding re‑check or long queues.

Distinct identity:
All Easy Connect flights will carry numbers in the AI11XX series, creating a recognizable sub‑network.

Strategic impact:
- Makes global travel accessible from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
- Strengthens India’s aviation ecosystem by integrating airlines, airports, and government agencies.
- Positions Air India as the lead carrier in implementing this model nationwide.

Future rollout:
More spoke cities will join in phases, expanding connectivity across India.

This is a major step in democratizing international travel — passengers from smaller cities can now fly abroad with the same ease as those from metros.

Fleet modernization program: