New Delhi, April 29: Air India has expressed its support for the government’s decision to adopt the ‘hub-and-spoke’ model, stating that it will bring significant changes to the country’s aviation sector.
Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of the Tata Group-owned airline, described this initiative as a ‘transformational step’ for the aviation industry. He emphasized that it will strengthen connectivity and maximize the use of airport infrastructure across the nation.
In line with this model, Air India has launched international flights from Varanasi.
Wilson further stated, “This is a revolutionary step for Indian aviation. We thank Prime Minister Modi for his visionary efforts to make India a global aviation hub and develop the entire aviation ecosystem.”
He also praised the Prime Minister’s vision for fostering a robust aviation ecosystem and enhancing India’s position in global air travel.
As part of its expansion strategy aligned with this model, Air India is preparing to initiate international connectivity from Varanasi, aimed at ensuring seamless travel for passengers from eastern Uttar Pradesh and neighboring regions.
P. Balaji, Group Head of Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Corporate Affairs at Air India, noted that this move will help elevate India’s global aviation beyond metropolitan areas, making international travel more accessible for passengers from tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
Earlier this month, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu chaired a high-level meeting with key stakeholders to review the preparations for implementing hub-and-spoke operations at Delhi Airport.
The minister stated that this model will enable seamless connectivity between tier-II and tier-III airports developed under the flight plan and international destinations.
He highlighted that approximately 35% of international passengers from India currently transit through foreign hubs like Dubai, London, and Singapore. He added, “Our goal is to reverse this trend by developing globally competitive Indian hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai.”
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