{"id":140901,"date":"2026-04-27T12:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T06:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=140901"},"modified":"2026-04-27T03:53:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T22:23:34","slug":"india-selects-4-airports-as-international-hub-and-spoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/27\/india-selects-4-airports-as-international-hub-and-spoke\/","title":{"rendered":"India Selects These 4 Airports as International Hub-and-Spoke Transfer Points"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DELHI-<\/strong> India<\/a> has announced plans to develop four airports as hub-and-spoke transfer points for international air travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)<\/a>, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)<\/a>, and Rajkot’s Hirasar International Airport (RAJ) will serve as the country’s first designated hub airports, TOI<\/a> reported exclusively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move aims to bring transfer traffic back to Indian soil from foreign hubs such as Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), Singapore (SIN), and Frankfurt (FRA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delhi (DEL) will be the first to go live under the new hub-and-spoke model from June 1, while the aviation ministry has started groundwork for the remaining three locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airlines expected to anchor this model include IndiGo (6E)<\/a>, Air India (AI), and Akasa Air (QP), all of which already operate key bases at Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"India
Photo: GMR Delhi International Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How India Plans to Build Its Aviation Hub Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The hub-and-spoke model will allow passengers from smaller Indian cities to fly into one of the four hub airports and connect to international flights without the friction that exists today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the current system, passengers arriving on international flights must collect their baggage, clear customs, and re-check luggage for a domestic connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new policy eliminates this process by transferring baggage through airside operations at the hub airport, removing the need for passenger intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A senior aviation ministry official explained the concept with an example: a passenger flying from Raipur (RPR) to Oman via Rajkot (RAJ) would clear customs and immigration at Raipur itself, then board a connecting flight at Rajkot without any additional formalities. The same seamless process would apply on the return journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry is coordinating with the home, finance, and external affairs ministries, since critical elements such as immigration, customs clearance, and security fall under their respective jurisdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"PM
Photo: Narendra Modi Ji Twitter Page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Rajkot Has Emerged as a Strategic Hub<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Among the four selected airports, Rajkot Hirasar (RAJ)<\/a> stands out as a strategic addition. It is India’s westernmost major airport, placing key Gulf destinations like Oman less than two hours away by air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rajkot sits at the centre of the Saurashtra industrial and trading belt, which generates significant passenger and cargo demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IndiGo (6E) is reportedly in discussions with the aviation ministry to provide both domestic and international connectivity at Rajkot. Sources involved in the planning described a Rajkot hub as highly workable, given its geographic advantage and the commercial activity in the surrounding region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Singapore
Photo: Changi Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shifting Transfer Traffic From Foreign Hubs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For decades, the absence of strong Indian airlines and world-class airports pushed transfer traffic to airports outside the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flights from multiple Indian cities land during early morning hours at Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), Abu Dhabi (AUH), and Singapore (SIN)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passengers from these flights then board onward services operated by Emirates (EK)<\/a>, Qatar Airways (QR), Etihad Airways (EY), and Singapore Airlines (SQ) to reach their final destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India now believes the conditions have changed. The country has built large modern airports since the early 2000s, and its airlines have placed significant widebody aircraft orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IndiGo (6E) and the Air India (AI)<\/a> group together hold a growing fleet of widebody jets capable of serving long-haul international routes. The government sees an opportunity to redirect this transfer business to Indian airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"India
Photo: Canva<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seamless Baggage Transfer Is the Centrepiece<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The single biggest improvement under the new policy targets baggage handling. For outbound passengers, those flying from a spoke city to an international destination via a hub can through-check their baggage at the origin airport, provided both flights are on the same airline or codeshare alliance partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For inbound international passengers, baggage will move through airside operations at the hub and connect directly to the domestic flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aviation ministry confirmed that this airside baggage transfer system is a core component of the hub-and-spoke policy, designed to match the transfer experience passengers currently receive at foreign hub airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mumbai
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Expansion Beyond the Initial Four Hubs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The government plans to start with the four selected airports and expand the list over time. Each hub will have identified spoke cities in the initial phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The success of the model depends on airline capacity, airport infrastructure readiness, and smooth inter-ministerial coordination on immigration, customs, and security protocols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air India (AI) group’s ongoing transformation and the growth trajectory of newer carriers like Akasa Air (QP) will play a critical role. The government has indicated that a robust Indian airline ecosystem, beyond just IndiGo (6E), is essential for the hub-and-spoke model to deliver on its full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Air India Plans New Global Hub at Navi Mumbai Airport<\/a><\/blockquote>