Ahmedabad becomes third spoke airport under India's International Aviation Hub Strategy: how the benefits extend beyond aviation
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad, making it the third airport in the country to be integrated into India's Hub & Spoke framework for international passenger movement, after Varanasi and Amritsar.
The launch was marked at a function attended by Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
The launch of Hub & Spoke operations from Varanasi on 25 June 2026 marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indian aviation. As part of the phased expansion of the initiative, Hub & Spoke operations from Amritsar Airport were launched on 28 July 2026.
With the addition of Ahmedabad, the country is taking another significant step towards creating an integrated, seamless and passenger-centric aviation network that connects India's regions directly with the world through our own hub airport at Delhi.
Now hub-and-spoke operations from Ahmedabad will further strengthen global connectivity, with flight AI 1117 connecting passengers to 22 destinations, primarily across Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, while the evening service AI 1121, departing at 20:15 hours, extended connectivity to 17 destinations across North America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe.
Benefits extend beyond aviation
The benefits extend beyond aviation. Improved international connectivity will particularly benefit Gujarat's business community, exporters including diamond exporters, handicraft artisans, investors, tourists and students, by improving access to international markets and destinations.
Ahmedabad's stronger integration with the national hub network can support trade, tourism, investment and regional economic development, thereby contributing to Gujarat's growth as a globally connected state. Studies undertaken by the Ministry indicate that aviation hub development could generate approximately 0.4 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute an additional USD 30 billion to India's GDP by 2030. By 2047, the cumulative impact could support approximately 16 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute nearly USD 1.4 trillion to the economy.
The commencement of Hub and Spoke flight operations from Ahmedabad marks the extension of this progressively expanding framework to additional airports across the country in the coming months. Shri Ram Mohan Naidu shared that Hub & Spoke connectivity will next be extended to 22 more airports in this phase, including Surat in Gujarat.