India’s aviation sector is set for a structural shift as Air India on Wednesday backed the Centre’s move to roll out a hub-and-spoke aviation model and announced plans to launch international connectivity from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, signalling a decisive push to turn India into a global aviation hub while easing pressure on metro airports.The move comes amid the Central Government’s wider strategy to transform the aviation ecosystem, improve airport infrastructure utilisation, boost connectivity from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and position India as a major transit hub in global air travel. With rising passenger traffic, congestion at major airports like Delhi and Mumbai has been a persistent concern, and the hub-and-spoke model is expected to redistribute traffic while enhancing seamless travel.Welcoming the development, Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, said the model would be a “transformative step for Indian aviation”.“This is a transformative step for Indian aviation. We would like to thank the Prime Minister for his vision to make India a global aviation hub and develop the entire aviation ecosystem. The hub-and-spoke model will not only strengthen connectivity but also ensure optimal use of airport infrastructure developed across the country,” Wilson said.He said that the Civil Aviation Ministry’s push would create a “strong multiplier effect” and act as a catalyst for India’s economic growth, aviation sector expansion, and global connectivity ambitions.Wilson also acknowledged the role of the Civil Aviation Secretary in coordinating with airlines, airports and government agencies to ensure operational readiness, passenger convenience, and security compliance as the new aviation model moves towards implementation.As part of its aggressive network expansion strategy, Air India confirmed that it is preparing to introduce international flights from Varanasi under the hub-and-spoke framework. The move is expected to significantly improve global connectivity for eastern Uttar Pradesh and nearby regions, while reducing dependence on metro hubs.P Balaji, Group Head, Governance, Risk, Compliance and Corporate Affairs at Air India, said the decision reflects a shift towards decentralising international travel in India.“The introduction of international hub-and-spoke connectivity from Varanasi underscores our focus on expanding India’s global aviation footprint beyond metros. It will provide a tremendous boost to international travellers from India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities by cutting down travel time, while making travel seamless and convenient,” he said.The hub-and-spoke aviation model marks a major transition in India’s aviation landscape, from a largely point-to-point or end-destination market to an integrated global transit system. Under this model, major airports act as hubs while smaller cities serve as spokes, feeding passenger traffic into larger international routes.Industry experts said that the model will improve aircraft utilisation, reduce congestion at busy airports, and enable faster passenger processing, including customs and immigration, at multiple locations instead of a few crowded metros.