GURUGRAM- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) has opened bookings for its first flights under the Government of India’s hub-and-spoke model, branding them as ‘Easy Connect’ flights and allowing travellers from smaller cities to drop baggage and clear immigration at their origin airport before flying onward worldwide. The service begins from Varanasi (VNS) on 25 June 2026, with a daily flight AI1111 linking the city to the carrier’s primary hub at Delhi (DEL).
As the lead carrier driving this model, Air India (AI) plans a phased rollout of Easy Connect flights across multiple cities in the coming months. The structure connects Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to major hubs such as Delhi (DEL), from where passengers reach an extensive international network, including London Heathrow (LHR), Frankfurt (FRA), Singapore (SIN), and Dubai (DXB).
Air India Launches Easy Connect Flights
The hub-and-spoke model links ‘spoke’ cities such as Varanasi to large ‘hub’ airports like Delhi, where passengers connect to Air India’s global network through a single transit point.
The design delivers optimised schedules and a smoother transit experience for travellers from non-metro cities.
Air India designed and implemented the model in close coordination with industry stakeholders. At its core sits a simplified international travel experience built on three features:
Through check-in to final destination: Travellers from cities such as Varanasi check in at their home airport all the way to their final international destination. They do not need to collect or re-check baggage at the hub airport, such as Delhi.
Immigration at origin: Travellers complete international immigration formalities at their originating airport, avoiding queues and processing at the hub.
Seamless international transit via the hub: Passengers transit through hub airports like Delhi as international travellers, making connections faster and more efficient.
Travellers also gain a familiar and comfortable transit environment within India. This avoids the complexity and unfamiliarity usually tied to transiting through foreign hub airports.
Varanasi Connects to 17 Global Destinations
The designated Easy Connect flight from Varanasi to Delhi operates daily as AI1111. Within four hours of arrival at Delhi, the flight is timed to provide seamless connections to 17 international destinations, including London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Manila, Singapore, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh, and Dubai, among others.
The onward connections from Delhi cover a wide range of long-haul and regional routes.
These include
- AI2017 to London Heathrow at 12:05,
- AI151 to Zurich at 12:15,
- AI2362 to Manila at 12:25,
- AI123 to Rome at 12:20,
- AI157 to Copenhagen at 12:20,
- AI2029 to Frankfurt at 12:20,
- AI153 to Vienna at 12:30,
- AI137 to Milan at 12:45,
- AI281 to Colombo at 12:40,
- AI2388 to Ho Chi Minh City at 12:55,
- AI2015 to London Heathrow at 13:10,
- AI2382 to Singapore at 13:10,
- AI2376 to Phuket at 13:25,
- AI2243 to Riyadh at 13:45,
- AI2384 to Kuala Lumpur at 13:40,
- AI2304 to Bangkok at 14:30,
- AI219 to Kathmandu at 14:25, and
- AI4309 to Dubai at 15:15.
Subsequent Easy Connect flights operating from other spoke airports will be numbered in the ‘AI11XX’ series. This creates a distinct network identity for these services as the model expands.
Industry Collaboration Behind the Rollout
P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, said:
The successful implementation of the hub-and-spoke model requires close coordination across airlines, airports, and multiple government agencies, and we are grateful for the strong collaboration that has enabled this rollout.
P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India
Air India is committed to continuing to work closely with all stakeholders across the industry and the Government of India as we expand this model to more cities and phases. Together, we are building a more efficient, integrated, and globally competitive aviation ecosystem for India.”
The rollout will expand to several additional cities in a phased manner over the coming months, as Air India continues to anchor and lead the implementation of this connectivity model.
Bookings for Air India’s Easy Connect flights under the new hub-and-spoke model are now open across all channels. Travellers can book through Air India’s website, mobile app, contact centre, and travel agents.
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