Ministry of Civil Aviation Inaugurates Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Amritsar
The Ministry of Civil Aviation inaugurated Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Amritsar on July 28, 2026, making it the second airport in India to be integrated into the country's pioneering Hub & Spoke framework for international passenger movement. This initiative represents 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 June 25, 2026, which has operated smoothly over the past month, demonstrating operational viability and receiving encouraging passenger response. During this period, passengers originating from Varanasi have been seamlessly connected through Delhi to eighteen international destinations.
Under this framework, Delhi serves as the hub while Amritsar emerges as a major international gateway for Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. International passengers can now complete check-in, immigration, and customs formalities at Amritsar before departure, with baggage checked through to the final international destination, enabling seamless transfer at the designated hub airport without undergoing immigration or customs formalities again.
Operational Impact and Passenger Benefits
Amritsar previously had direct international connectivity to only seven destinations, but with the Hub & Spoke model, the global connectivity of Delhi Airport becomes available to passengers from Amritsar. Travelers can now access more than 20 international destinations with a single check-in and single baggage tag. Currently, nearly 1.5 lakh passengers travel from Amritsar to Delhi annually to board international flights, while another 1.5 lakh passengers arrive from overseas via Delhi to reach Amritsar.
Airlines estimate a potential of nearly 250 passengers per day from Amritsar alone benefiting from the Hub & Spoke model through Delhi. As additional spoke airports are integrated in coming months, the next phase is expected to facilitate approximately 1,200 passengers daily, equivalent to nearly 4.5 lakh passengers annually.
Economic Projections and Strategic Vision
Studies by the Ministry indicate that developing 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.
The initiative aims to strengthen India's aviation sovereignty, reduce dependence on overseas transit hubs, and retain a larger share of international transfer traffic within the country. It is expected to generate wider economic benefits by strengthening tourism, trade, investment, and regional development.
The event was attended by senior officials including Shri Samir Kumar Sinha (Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation), Shri Puneet Kansal (Additional Secretary), Shri Vipin Kumar (Chairman, Airports Authority of India), Shri Sharad Kumar (Chief Advisor, AAI), and Shri P. Balaji (Group Head – Governance, Air India), along with representatives from Bureau of Immigration, Customs, CISF, and various industry stakeholders.