- A transit hub is an important intermediary point for travellers travelling from one foreign country to another in the aviation industry.
- It’s similar to a well-planned layover in which passengers switch from one plane to another, striving for a seamless journey.
What is an Aviation Transit Hub?
- A transit hub is a bridge in the sky that connects visitors from one foreign location to another quickly and easily.
- Passengers travelling from Country A to Country C via Country B should have a pleasant experience.
- Such hubs often rely on a major airline with a large network to provide one-stop flights, ideally with a 2 to 3-hour wait between flights.
- Consider it a hub-and-spoke approach, where planes connect at the hub and then spread out to other locations, making travel more economical and efficient.
Can India Become a Transit Hub?
- Indian airlines handled 40.2% of air passenger travel to and from India in 2018-19.
- This figure has increased to 44% in 2022-23, while international carriers’ stake has decreased to 56%.
- India now has low-cost international carriers for short and medium-haul flights, including newcomers like Akasa.
- These tendencies point to India’s potential as an economic transit hub, beginning with basic services.
Which airlines are capable of making it happen?
- Air India Group and IndiGo have the ability to transform India into a transit centre.
- They have almost 1,500 aircraft on order, the majority of which are narrow-body planes capable of spanning 5 to 8 hours of journey time, including European locations.
Is there another player in transit hubs?
- The plan starts in New Delhi, where the government, Delhi airport, and airlines are working together to improve the hub experience.
- Depending on airline origins, transit hubs are also being planned for Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
- Mumbai may appeal to African travellers, whilst Delhi may serve Central Europe and West Asia.
Is there any policy backing?
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation supports the concept and encourages airlines to offer additional nonstop international routes.
- Airports and airlines are collaborating to develop greater transit spaces within airports.
- Initiatives could include specialised international terminals or huge carriers to facilitate travel.
Source: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2023/04/21/Unleashing-Indias-Growth-Potential-532616