Ahmedabad: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport in Ahmedabad is all set to become the third spoke under the Centre’s phased hub-and-spoke aviation model. This is a push to expand international connectivity from regional airports.Ahmedabad is set to join the network next, with officials confirming that more regional destinations are also under consideration for the rollout.“For passengers in Ahmedabad, the model could mean access to more international destinations through smoother connections at designated hubs. It could also reduce the need to repeat customs, immigration, and baggage formalities while changing flights at the hub,” said a source familiar with the matter.The civil aviation ministry recently launched the hub-and-spoke model to make international travel easier for passengers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. As part of the model, passengers can complete customs, immigration, and baggage checks at their local departure airport before flying to a designated hub.As part of this, passengers can connect to international destinations through major aviation hubs such as Delhi and Mumbai.The model is designed to reduce repeated checks and formalities at connecting airports. It will also allow smaller international gateways to connect passengers to a wider network of global destinations through central hubs.Ahmedabad’s inclusion would strengthen its role as an international gateway for Gujarat and neighbouring regions. The city already has direct international air links with several destinations. The city airport already sees about 380 international departures each week. The airport recently added new international links to Doha, Phuket, Baku, and Colombo, among others, as part of the summer schedule. “The new framework could allow passengers from Ahmedabad to access a larger international network through hub connections,” a source said.Centre has planned a phased rollout of the model across the country. The govt expects the framework to eventually connect up to 44 airports by 2030. It estimates that the initiative could generate about 400,000 jobs and unlock $30 billion in economic activity by 2030. The move could also strengthen Ahmedabad’s position as an international hub as the Centre expands the model to more regional airports to boost its international connectivity.
