The government is working toward a larger hub-and-spoke aviation network that would cover 44 airports, including four major hub airports, as part of its effort to improve international air links. According to a senior official, the goal is to make overseas travel more seamless by connecting passengers from more Indian cities through key aviation hubs.
Air India on Tuesday expanded this model by launching hub-and-spoke flights from Amritsar. The city becomes the second airport after Varanasi to be linked under this approach, indicating that the network is gradually being rolled out beyond the biggest metro gateways.
Under a hub-and-spoke system, travelers from smaller or regional airports are funneled through larger hub airports before continuing to international destinations. The model is widely used by airlines to improve route efficiency and broaden connectivity without requiring direct long-haul flights from every city.
The latest move suggests a coordinated push between policy and airline operations to strengthen India's global aviation reach. With Amritsar now added after Varanasi, the broader 44-airport plan points to a wider strategy focused on better connectivity, smoother transfers and expanded access to international travel.
