India's first 'Easy Connect' hub-and-spoke international flight launched from Varanasi
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu launched India's first 'Easy Connect' flight under the Hub-and-Spoke model from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, on 25 June 2026.
Summary
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu launched India's first 'Easy Connect' flight under the Hub-and-Spoke model from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on 25 June 2026. Under the model, international passengers complete check-in, immigration and customs at the spoke airport, such as Varanasi, before flying to a hub airport such as Delhi, and separate boarding cards marked D (domestic) and I (international) prevent intermixing. The Hub-and-Spoke strategy aims to make India the aviation hub of choice for Indian passengers by 2030 and for the world by 2047. Ministry studies estimate about 0.4 million jobs and USD 30 billion of additional GDP by 2030, rising to about 16 million jobs and nearly USD 1.4 trillion by 2047.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 25 June 2026, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
- Model
- Hub-and-Spoke: formalities done at the spoke airport
- Boarding cards
- Separate D and I identifiers
- Goal
- Hub of choice for Indian passengers by 2030; for the world by 2047
- Estimated impact
- 0.4 million jobs, USD 30 billion by 2030; 16 million jobs, USD 1.4 trillion by 2047
Practice MCQs 3 questions
From which airport did Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu launch India's first 'Easy Connect' hub-and-spoke flight on 25 June 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi
India's first 'Easy Connect' flight under the Hub-and-Spoke model was launched from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi.
Under the 'Easy Connect' Hub-and-Spoke model launched in June 2026, where do international passengers complete check-in, immigration and customs formalities?
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Correct answer: B — At the spoke airport
International passengers complete check-in, immigration and customs formalities at the spoke airport itself, e.g. Varanasi, before flying to a hub such as Delhi.
Consider the following statements about the Hub-and-Spoke aviation strategy (June 2026): 1. It aims to make India the aviation hub of choice for Indian passengers by 2030 and for the world by 2047. 2. Separate boarding cards with 'D' and 'I' identifiers are issued to domestic and international passengers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct as per the Civil Aviation Ministry.