K Rammohan Naidu recently held a key meeting to review the preparedness of Delhi airport for adopting a hub-and-spoke model. This strategy is designed to improve connectivity by enabling smoother transfers between domestic and international flights. The move reflects a broader effort to transform India’s aviation network into a more efficient and globally competitive system.
The hub-and-spoke model works by routing passengers through major central airports, or “hubs,” instead of relying on direct connections between all destinations. This allows airlines to consolidate traffic, increase flight frequency, and offer better connectivity options. For passengers, it means shorter layovers, better coordination between flights, and a more seamless travel experience.
Currently, nearly 35% of Indian international travellers rely on foreign hubs such as Dubai, London, and Singapore for transit. This results in revenue loss for Indian airports and airlines. The government’s plan aims to reverse this trend by strengthening domestic infrastructure and encouraging airlines to operate more connecting flights within India.
As part of this initiative, the government plans to develop major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai as global aviation hubs. These cities are expected to handle higher volumes of transit passengers while offering world-class facilities and improved connectivity.
Improving infrastructure is a key part of this plan. Airports will need better terminals, faster baggage handling systems, and enhanced passenger services to handle increased transit traffic. Coordination between airlines, airport operators, and government agencies will also be crucial to ensure smooth implementation of the hub model.
Overall, this initiative is a strategic step towards strengthening India’s aviation sector. By reducing dependence on foreign transit hubs and enhancing domestic capabilities, India aims to retain passenger traffic, boost revenue, and position its airports as major global transit points in the coming years.