Air India. Photo: Pratisha Manandhar / Shutterstock.com As announced at the end of April, Air India is getting ready to launch global routes from Varanasi under India’s hub-and-spoke model, looking to provide a "tremendous boost to international travelers from India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities" by lowering travel time and making travel "seamless and convenient”.
The Indian carrier has today, June 9, 2026, unveiled the new service, called Easy Connect, designed to simplify international travel for passengers connecting through Delhi.
Launching on June 25 from Varanasi, the program allows travelers to complete check-in, baggage drop, and immigration procedures at their departure airport before flying to Delhi, where they can seamlessly connect to international flights across Europe, West Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Checked baggage will be transferred directly to the final destination, reducing transit hassles and saving time at the airline's main hub.
Air India says the initiative supports its broader hub-and-spoke strategy and will gradually be expanded to additional Indian cities in the coming months.