Ministry of Civil Aviation Expands Hub & Spoke Strategy After Varanasi; Amritsar to Connect Travellers to 20+ Global Destinations Through Delhi

In a major step towards transforming India into a global aviation hub, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has inaugurated Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Amritsar, making it the second spoke airport under the Government of India’s International Aviation Hub Strategy.

Following the successful rollout of the model in Varanasi in June 2026, the expansion to Amritsar will enable passengers to access more than 20 international destinations via Delhi with a single check-in, single baggage tag and seamless transfer process. The initiative is designed to improve passenger convenience, strengthen Indian aviation hubs and drive tourism, trade and regional economic growth.

Key Highlights

• Amritsar becomes India’s second Hub & Spoke airport after Varanasi.
• Passengers can now connect to 20+ international destinations through Delhi.
• Single check-in, baggage tagging, immigration and customs clearance at Amritsar.
• Eliminates repeated immigration and customs procedures during transfer at Delhi.
• Around 3 lakh passengers annually currently travel between Amritsar and Delhi for international connections.
• Airlines estimate 250 passengers per day will initially benefit from the initiative.
• Expansion to additional spoke airports is expected to serve 4.5 lakh passengers annually.
• Government projects the aviation hub strategy could contribute USD 30 billion to India’s economy by 2030 and support 0.4 million jobs.

Amritsar Emerges as a Key International Aviation Gateway

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has identified Amritsar as a strategic spoke airport due to its strong international demand, large diaspora population and importance as a gateway for pilgrims, business travellers and tourists from Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Under the Hub & Spoke framework:

• Passengers complete check-in, immigration and customs formalities at Amritsar.
• Baggage is checked through directly to the final international destination.
• Travellers can transfer seamlessly at Delhi Airport without repeating immigration or customs procedures.

The model significantly reduces travel complexity while improving the overall passenger experience.

Building on the Success of Varanasi

The Amritsar rollout follows the successful launch of India’s first Hub & Spoke operations from Varanasi on 25 June 2026.

According to the Ministry, passengers travelling from Varanasi have already been connected through Delhi to 18 international destinations, demonstrating the operational success and passenger acceptance of the model.

The government plans to gradually integrate more regional airports into the Hub & Spoke network, creating a nationwide seamless international connectivity system through Indian airports.

Boosting India’s Global Aviation Ambitions

The initiative forms a central pillar of the Government’s International Aviation Hub Strategy, which aims to:

• Position Indian airports as preferred international transit hubs.
• Improve network efficiency for Indian airlines.
• Reduce dependence on overseas transit airports.
• Retain a larger share of international transfer traffic within India.
• Strengthen India’s global aviation competitiveness.

The Ministry estimates that by:

• 2030:
  • Nearly 0.4 million direct and indirect jobs could be generated.
  • Around USD 30 billion could be added to India’s economy.
• 2047:
  • Approximately 16 million jobs could be supported.
  • The cumulative economic contribution could reach USD 1.4 trillion.

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Impact

The expansion of the Hub & Spoke model is expected to significantly benefit the hospitality, tourism and aviation sectors, particularly in northern India.

Hotels & Hospitality

Simplified international travel is likely to increase inbound arrivals to Amritsar, driving higher occupancy for hotels, resorts, serviced apartments and homestays. The city is expected to witness greater demand from both leisure and business travellers.

Religious & Heritage Tourism

Home to the Golden Temple, Amritsar is one of India’s leading pilgrimage destinations. Improved international accessibility is expected to attract more visitors from the global Sikh diaspora as well as international tourists exploring Punjab’s heritage.

Food & Beverage

Higher tourist footfall will benefit restaurants, cafés, local food streets and Punjab’s culinary tourism sector, encouraging longer visitor stays and higher tourism spending.

Travel Trade & MICE

Travel agencies, tour operators, destination management companies (DMCs) and conference organisers stand to gain from improved international connectivity, while the city could attract more business events and corporate travel.

Regional Tourism Growth

The initiative also enhances access to destinations across Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, creating opportunities for multi-destination itineraries and extended tourism circuits.

Why It Matters

The launch of Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Amritsar marks another milestone in India’s ambition to become a globally competitive aviation hub. By simplifying international travel, improving regional connectivity and strengthening Indian transit gateways, the initiative supports not only aviation growth but also tourism, hospitality and regional economic development.

For the hospitality industry, the expanded connectivity is expected to boost inbound tourism, increase hotel demand and reinforce Amritsar’s position as one of India’s leading international tourism gateways.