Air India expanded its hub-and-spoke initiative for international connections, adding Ahmedabad Airport (AMD) as the third airport where eligible travelers can fly as international transit passengers from the start of their itinerary.
In conjunction with the Indian government, the airline is moving to reform a system in which passengers traveling abroad from secondary cities through major Indian airports—such as Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (DEL)—have to fly as domestic passengers from the origin airport and then collect bags, check in again and clear customs at the hub airport.
Air India has already implemented the “easy connect” program for select flights from Amritsar and Varanasi to DEL. Two daily flights from AMD—one in the morning and one at night—will now carry passengers who can check in for service to their final international destination and clear customs before boarding the domestic leg.
Passengers will fly on one ticket through their entire itinerary, and bags will be transferred at DEL to the connecting flight. Passengers will not have to switch terminals before connecting, according to Air India.
“This enables travelers to fly via Delhi as international transit passengers, avoiding repeated procedures and making international travel significantly simpler and more convenient,” the airline said.
Air India said the system that has been in place has led to 85% of connecting international passengers flying to and from India—around 17 million annually—to transit through a foreign hub rather than an Indian hub.
The airline said the new model will be expanded to more flights and more spoke airports. Air India said it plans to implement “a phased nationwide rollout that will progressively connect more domestic spoke cities in addition to Ahmedabad, Amritsar and Varanasi to the airline’s primary hubs in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, unlocking seamless, end-to-end international travel for millions of Indians.”
Air India noted AMD passengers flying as part of the new program will be able to connect to 26 international destinations via DEL.
"The expansion of hub-and-spoke operations to Ahmedabad is another step forward in our vision towards building a more connected, inclusive and globally competitive aviation ecosystem,” Indian Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said. “India’s aviation growth must extend beyond the major metropolitan centers and ensure that the benefits of air connectivity reach every region of the country.”
Currently, only passengers traveling outbound on Air India connections are eligible. The government has said more airlines could be added to the program as well as inbound passengers. International passport holders are eligible for the program.
To use easy connect, there must be 4 hr. or less between the arrival of the domestic leg flight and the international departure at DEL. Passengers can only check-in at the origin airport in person—not digitally—and are advised to arrive at the origin airport at least 3 hr. prior to departure.
Indian passengers must be registered for the biometric facial recognition app DigiYatra before traveling, and will be required to go through DigiYatra e-gates at DEL. DigiYatra is not required for foreign passport holders participating in the program.
Customs declaration at the origin airport is not part of the initiative. Air India advises passengers who need to declare high-value goods not to use the easy connect program.
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