Delhi Airport Prepares For Hub-And-Spoke Operations As Government Pushes Global Aviation Hub Strategy
The review included an on-ground assessment of passenger flow systems and inspection of the Security Hold Area at Terminal 3, as part of preparations to transform Delhi Airport into a major global transit hub. The move aligns with the government’s International Aviation Hub Strategy under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, aimed at positioning India as a leading aviation hub by 2047.
The hub-and-spoke model is expected to enhance connectivity between Tier-II and Tier-III cities and international destinations, while improving utilisation of existing airport infrastructure. Currently, around 35 percent of India’s international passengers transit through foreign hubs such as Dubai, London and Singapore. The government aims to shift this traffic to Indian hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai.
Delhi Airport, with an annual capacity exceeding 100 million passengers and handling nearly half of northern India’s air traffic, is being positioned as a key hub under this strategy. The initiative is also expected to strengthen India’s air cargo capabilities through measures such as digitisation of approvals and removal of re-screening requirements for transshipment cargo.
The hub-and-spoke model is projected to generate around 16 million jobs and contribute nearly USD 1.4 trillion to the economy by 2047, while improving operational efficiency for airlines and reducing congestion at major airports through decentralised customs and immigration processes.
Published on:
24 April 2026
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