The Ministry of Civil Aviation today launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad, making it the third airport in the country to be integrated into India's Hub & Spoke framework for international passenger movement, after Varanasi and Amritsar. The launch was marked at a function attended by Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri Murlidhar Mohol and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi.

The launch of Hub & Spoke operations from Varanasi on 25 June 2026 marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indian aviation. As part of the phased expansion of the initiative, Hub & Spoke operations from Amritsar Airport were launched on 28 July 2026. Today, with the addition of Ahmedabad, we are taking another significant step towards creating an integrated, seamless and passenger-centric aviation network that connects India's regions directly with the world through our own hub airport at Delhi. Now hub-and-spoke operations from Ahmedabad will further strengthen global connectivity, with flight AI 1117 connecting passengers to 22 destinations, primarily across Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, while the evening service AI 1121, departing at 20:15 hours, will extend connectivity to 17 destinations across North America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe.

Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, while explaining what changes for Ahmedabad passengers, noted that until now, a passenger travelling from Ahmedabad to destinations like Paris, Toronto or Sydney had to take a domestic flight to Delhi, manage separate bookings, handle luggage on arrival, navigate immigration queues at a large airport, and risk missing a connecting flight. Under Hub & Spoke, immigration, check-in and baggage check-through will now all be completed at Ahmedabad itself, with baggage travelling straight through to the final international destination.

The Hub-and-Spoke model is a key component of the Government's International Aviation Hub Strategy, aimed at positioning India as the preferred aviation hub for Indian travellers by 2030 and a leading global aviation hub by 2047. The initiative leverages India's strategic geographical location and extensive airport infrastructure to strengthen connectivity through Indian hubs and reduce dependence on overseas transit airports.

Under this first-of-its-kind framework, international passengers complete check-in, immigration and customs formalities at the originating spoke airport, which is itself an international airport, before commencing their journey to global destinations. After arriving at the designated hub airport, passengers can proceed directly to their onward international flight without repeating immigration or customs procedures. Baggage is transferred seamlessly, significantly improving passenger convenience and reducing travel complexity.

Talking about its potential, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu cited that 1.6 crore passengers last year travelled from Ahmedabad to Delhi to board international flights. He said that with the seamless journey of Hub & Spoke, Ahmedabad will be ready to invite a global audience from maximum destinations for the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

The Minister said the benefit of greater footfall would flow to Ahmedabad's textile, pharmaceutical, diamond and gems, and engineering sectors.

The Hub and Spoke model is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including enhanced international connectivity from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, improved passenger experience, better utilisation of airport infrastructure, greater operational efficiency for airlines, and strengthened competitiveness of Indian aviation.

The benefits extend beyond aviation. Improved international connectivity will particularly benefit Gujarat's business community, exporters including diamond exporters, handicraft artisans, investors, tourists and students, by improving access to international markets and destinations. Ahmedabad's stronger integration with the national hub network can support trade, tourism, investment and regional economic development, thereby contributing to Gujarat's growth as a globally connected state. Studies undertaken by the Ministry indicate that aviation hub development could generate approximately 0.4 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute an additional USD 30 billion to India's GDP by 2030. By 2047, the cumulative impact could support approximately 16 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute nearly USD 1.4 trillion to the economy.

The commencement of Hub and Spoke flight operations from Ahmedabad marks the extension of this progressively expanding framework to additional airports across the country in the coming months. Shri Ram Mohan Naidu shared that Hub & Spoke connectivity will next be extended to 22 more airports in this phase, including Surat in Gujarat.

Shri Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Shri Manoj Kumar Das, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Gujarat; Shri Rajesh Nirwan, DG, DGCA; Shri Puneet Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; and representatives from the Bureau of Immigration, Customs and CISF were also present. 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 Ahmedabad.

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Divyanshu Kumar

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