Air India has launched its first 'Easy Connect' flight, marking a significant milestone in Indian aviation.
The inaugural flight, AI1111, departed from Varanasi on 25 June 2026, under the Government of India's new hub-and-spoke model. This initiative aims to connect Indian cities seamlessly with international destinations, allowing passengers to begin their journeys from their home cities.
The 'Easy Connect' service was inaugurated by Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. He stated, “Today we take a major step forward towards realising our vision of making air travel more accessible and building a future-ready, self-reliant Indian aviation industry.”
Air India plans a phased rollout of these services, extending to 11 additional cities, including Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Mumbai. Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, highlighted the importance of this service, noting that it addresses the inconvenience faced by Indian travellers who previously had to transit through overseas hubs.
The 'Easy Connect' flights offer several advantages, such as through check-in to the final destination and immigration clearance at the point of departure. This reduces the complexity and unfamiliarity associated with foreign transit hubs. Passengers must complete pre-departure processes, including DigiYatra enrolment for Indian nationals.
Bookings for these flights are now open across various channels, with the Varanasi-Delhi route offering connections to 17 international destinations. This initiative is part of Air India's broader transformation programme, aiming to enhance its global presence and service quality
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