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Amritsar becomes second spoke airport under India's International Aviation Hub Strategy

Published: Jul 29, 2026

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 29, 2026: THE Ministry of Civil Aviation yesterday inaugurated Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Amritsar, making it the second airport in the country to be integrated into India's pioneering Hub & Spoke framework for international passenger movement. The inauguration marks the next phase of the Government's strategy to transform India into a global aviation hub by providing seamless international connectivity to passengers from across the country through Indian hub airports.

The launch follows the successful commencement of India's first Hub & Spoke operations from Varanasi on 25 June 2026. Over the past one month, the system has operated smoothly, demonstrating the operational viability of the model and receiving an encouraging response from passengers. During this period, passengers originating from Varanasi have been seamlessly connected through Delhi to eighteen international destinations, validating the effectiveness of the initiative in simplifying international travel.

Through a video message congratulating all the stakeholders present at the Amritsar airport, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said, ""Hub & Spoke is not merely an aviation model; it is an opportunity model. Delhi will serve as the hub, while Amritsar will emerge as a major international gateway for Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. With its strong diaspora connections and vast regional catchment, Amritsar is among the Indian cities that stand to benefit the most from this transformation in global connectivity."

Amritsar occupies a unique position as one of India's major international gateways, serving pilgrims, members of the Indian diaspora, business travellers and tourists from Punjab and neighbouring regions. Its inclusion under the Hub & Spoke framework is expected to substantially improve access to global destinations through Indian hubs while providing passengers with a faster, more convenient and predictable travel experience.

Emphasizing the larger national vision, the Minister added, "Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, India is working towards building its own globally competitive aviation hubs. This is not only about improving passenger convenience; it is about strengthening India's aviation sovereignty and ensuring that Indian hubs connect India to the world."

Beyond improving passenger experience, the initiative is expected to generate wider economic benefits by strengthening tourism, trade, investment and regional development. Studies undertaken by the Ministry indicate that the development of aviation hub operations could generate nearly 0.4 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute an additional USD 30 billion to India's economy by 2030. By 2047, the cumulative impact is projected to support approximately 16 million direct and indirect jobs while contributing nearly USD 1.4 trillion to the national economy.

With the commencement of operations from Amritsar, international passengers can now complete check-in, immigration and customs formalities at Amritsar before departure. Their baggage will be checked through to the final international destination, enabling them to transfer seamlessly at the designated hub airport to their onward international flight without undergoing immigration or customs formalities again.

Highlighting the transformational impact of the Hub & Spoke model on international connectivity from Amritsar, the Minister said: "Until now, passengers travelling from Amritsar had direct international connectivity to only seven destinations. With the introduction of the Hub & Spoke model, the global connectivity of Delhi Airport will effectively become available to passengers right from Amritsar itself. Travelers will be able to access more than 20 international destinations with a single check-in and a single baggage tag, making the entire journey far more seamless. At present, nearly 1.5 lakh passengers travel from Amritsar to Delhi every year to board international flights, while another 1.5 lakh passengers arrive from overseas via Delhi to reach Amritsar. As travel becomes significantly easier under this integrated system, we expect passenger traffic to grow rapidly."

The airlines have estimated a potential of nearly 250 passengers per day from Amritsar alone to benefit from the Hub & Spoke model through Delhi. As additional spoke airports are brought under the framework in the coming months, the next phase is expected to facilitate approximately 1,200 passengers every day, equivalent to nearly 4.5 lakh passengers annually, thereby significantly expanding seamless international connectivity from regional India.

The initiative significantly enhances passenger convenience while maintaining the highest standards of security, facilitation and regulatory compliance.

The Hub & Spoke framework forms a key pillar of the Government's International Aviation Hub Strategy, which seeks to strengthen Indian airports as preferred gateways for international travel, improve network efficiency for Indian carriers and reduce dependence on overseas transit hubs. By leveraging India's strategic geographical location and expanding airport infrastructure, the initiative aims to retain a larger share of international transfer traffic within the country while enhancing the competitiveness of India's aviation sector.

The inauguration of Hub & Spoke operations from Amritsar marks another significant milestone in the phased rollout of India's International Aviation Hub Strategy. Additional spoke airports are at advanced stages of operational readiness and will be integrated into the network in a phased manner, creating a nationwide system of seamless international connectivity through Indian hub airports. The initiative represents an important step towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by building a more connected, efficient and globally competitive aviation ecosystem.

The event was graced by Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Puneet Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India; Sharad Kumar, Chief Advisor, AAI; P. Balaji, Group Head - Governance, Air India; representatives from the Bureau of Immigration, Customs and CISF. The occasion also witnessed the presence of a wide spectrum of industry associations, hotel and hospitality stakeholders, travel partners, tourism

representatives and other key aviation and trade stakeholders, reflecting the strong collaborative support for strengthening international connectivity from Amritsar.

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