Govt issues SOP for first hub-and-spoke flights, sets immigration rules

Under the SOP, both legs of a hub-and-spoke journey will be treated as international operations. Immigration and customs clearance will occur only at the first departure and final arrival. Baggage will be transferred airside at the hub, so passengers do not need to collect and recheck bags. Spoke-to-hub flights will carry both domestic and international passengers; hub-to-spoke flights will carry only international passengers. Web check-in and electronic boarding passes will not be available for domestic-to-international passengers; travelers will receive two boarding passes, marked 'D' for domestic and 'I' for international. Domestic and international passengers must be segregated through dedicated channels upon disembarkation at hub airports.

The ministry said it will link Tier II and III airports developed under the UDAN regional air connectivity scheme to international destinations.

Air India is expected to begin trial hub-and-spoke flights from Varanasi airport starting June 1, with passengers flying Varanasi–Delhi and onward to London, according to PTI reporting.

The ministry issued a standard operating procedure outlining immigration, customs, baggage transfers and passenger segregation for hub-and-spoke journeys, with both legs classified as international operations.

Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu reviewed Delhi airport’s readiness for hub-and-spoke operations after chairing a meeting with key stakeholders.