NEW DELHI- Since the start of 2024, significant developments have emerged in two key areas: the expansion strategies of Air India (AI) and discussions regarding the establishment of an aviation hub in India. Delhi International Airport (DEL) plays a pivotal role in both of these contexts.
Delhi Airport is an established hub for Air India and IndiGo (6E). While IndiGo represents more of a regional expansion, connecting to strategically important countries, Air India has been steadily developing its hub in Delhi over the years, solidifying the national capital as its preferred choice.
Air India Delhi Hub
The Gurugram-based full-service carrier operates 37 International and around 30 domestic routes as of March 2024. Air India mainly operates as a central carrier for domestic-to-domestic, domestic-to-international, and international-to-international traffic.
The 37 International destinations are among the highest for Indian carriers from one airport. Air India provides roughly 60,000 weekly seats on its outbound international flights.
Following Tata’s takeover, the airline has shifted its focus towards launching new international routes, increasing capacity on busiest routes such as Delhi-London with 777-330ERs and optimizing its fleet with new orders and deliveries such as Airbus A350s.
In a memorable interview with Air India CEO at the first Skift India Summit 2024, Campbell revealed his plan to launch new hubs in India, and he mentioned that India could have around three hubs. We will share more insights in exclusive posts in the upcoming weeks.
US pre-clearance facility at Delhi
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) are actively exploring strategies to synchronize all agencies involved to ensure a seamless transfer experience for passengers.
One potential strategy under consideration is implementing the US pre-clearance facility at Delhi Airport. This means that travelers would undergo US immigration and customs clearance in New Delhi, allowing them to arrive in the US as domestic passengers.
Introducing this facility could significantly enhance opportunities for Indian carriers, particularly Air India, seeking to operate non-stop flights to the United States.
It would offer two key advantages to the airline: firstly, by attracting passengers from other carriers, and secondly, by enhancing its competitiveness for passengers originating from SAARC countries traveling to the US. In both scenarios, Delhi Airport stands to benefit as a crucial transfer hub.
As Air India prepares to elevate its service standards, beginning with the introduction of A350s, it acknowledges that establishing competitiveness comparable to Middle Eastern carriers will require time. These carriers have cultivated loyalty over years of consistent investment in enhancing their services’ hardware and software aspects.
A pivotal factor that could set Air India apart and attract passengers is the convenience of connections. While directly rivaling Dubai’s status may not be immediately attainable, adopting strategic approaches will distinguish the airline in the market.
Not A New Concept
The concept of U.S. pre-clearance has a long history, originating in the 1950s and becoming a regular practice in Canada since the 1970s. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance entails strategically stationing CBP personnel at specified foreign airports to screen travelers before boarding flights bound for the United States.
Through Preclearance, travelers can circumvent CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon arrival in the U.S., proceeding directly to their connecting flight or final destination.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has deployed over 600 officers and agriculture specialists across 15 Preclearance locations in six countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.
In 2019, CBP personnel stationed abroad precleared 22 million travelers, accounting for more than 16 percent of all commercial air travelers to the United States.
From the passenger’s perspective, this system enables them to arrive in the U.S. as domestic passengers, bypassing lengthy queues at U.S. immigration and facilitating quicker connections to other flights. For airlines, it translates to increased access to airport gates and more destinations within the United States.
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