First Easy Connect Flight Launched from Varanasi

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced the launch of India’s first Easy Connect flight under the Hub-and-Spoke model from Varanasi. The model is aimed at giving Tier-II and Tier-III cities smoother international connectivity through Indian hubs.

The Easy Connect model allows passengers to complete check-in, immigration and customs formalities at the spoke airport itself before moving through a domestic leg to a hub airport. The Ministry of Civil Aviation described it as a major step toward making India a global aviation hub by 2030 and beyond. The government linked this strategy to wider gains in trade, tourism, investment and regional development. It also projected substantial long-term job creation and GDP contribution from aviation hub development.