New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday chaired a high-level stakeholder meeting at Delhi Airport to review preparedness for implementing hub-and-spoke operations, a key component of India’s aviation growth strategy.
The meeting brought together senior officials from multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Customs, Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Central Industrial Security Force, DigiYatra, Delhi International Airport Limited, and leading airlines.
Naidu also conducted an on-ground inspection at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, reviewing passenger flow systems and the Security Hold Area (SHA) to assess operational readiness.
The initiative aligns with the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, which aims to establish India as a global aviation hub by 2047. Officials said an International Aviation Hub Strategy has been developed, focusing on calibrated allocation of Points of Call for foreign carriers, renegotiation of bilateral agreements to benefit Indian airlines, and liberalisation of domestic code-share arrangements.
“India’s unique geographical location between the eastern and western hemispheres provides a natural advantage in emerging as a global transit hub,” Naidu said, crediting support from Union Home Minister Amit Shah for advancing the proposal.
The hub-and-spoke model is expected to link Tier-II and Tier-III cities—many developed under the UDAN scheme—with global destinations via major airports. The approach aims to reduce travel time while optimising infrastructure use.
Currently, around 35% of international passengers from India transit through foreign hubs such as Dubai, London, and Singapore. The government plans to shift this traffic to domestic hubs, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Emphasising Delhi airport’s significance, Naidu noted its annual capacity exceeds 100 million passengers, with nearly half of northern India’s traffic passing through it and around 50,000 daily transfers handled, making it a natural hub.
The strategy also prioritises strengthening air cargo capabilities by removing re-screening requirements for transshipment cargo and digitising documentation to improve efficiency.
Officials estimate the model could generate around 16 million jobs and contribute nearly $1.4 trillion to the economy by 2047.
Under the proposed system, passengers from smaller cities will connect through major hub airports for international travel. Outbound customs and immigration checks will be completed at the originating airport, while inbound procedures will take place at the final destination.
Baggage transfers will be seamless, and separate aircraft will handle domestic and international segments to streamline operations.
The government said the initiative will enhance airline efficiency, reduce congestion at major airports, and strengthen India’s position as a global aviation hub.
(DD News)
