After having made immigration clearance faster and easier for international arrivals, India has launched a new initiative ‘Easy Connect’ – which is going to be a breakthrough in aviation. Starting 25 June 2026, the Easy Connect model aims to simplify international departures and ease immigration formalities for travelers from non-metro cities in India.
What is India’s Easy Connect Flights model?
Integrated to the Government of India’s hub-and-spoke aviation vision, the Easy Connect Flights model facilitates baggage check-in and immigration clearance at non-metro airports in India for outbound international travelers. If your itinerary has a domestic to international connection, for instance, Jaipur to Delhi or Lucknow to Delhi, you can check in bags and complete immigration formalities at the origin airport instead of Delhi IGI Airport.
You read it right. The ministry of civil aviation roped in Air India as the lead airline partner to roll out the Easy Connect model at Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in phases, starting from Varanasi (VNS). Air India’s Easy Connect flights are scheduled to take off on 25 June.
Easy Connect Flights: Benefits and Features
Seamless immigration: It is easier and quicker to clear immigration formalities at non-metro airports than a major international hub like DEL Airport. Pre-boarding queues, from check-in to security, are quite long and normal at metropolitan airports.
Through baggage check-in: The ‘Easy Connect’ system enables through baggage check-in from your home/origin airport to the final destination outside India. Once your checked bags are tagged and handed over to the airline at Varanasi Airport, you don’t need to collect and recheck-in at New Delhi Airport.
Stress-free transit: The hub-and-spoke model’s Easy Connect feature makes domestic to international connections a lot easier and simpler. You can directly transit as an international passenger bypassing queues and wait times at the hub airport, that is New Delhi IGI.
First-time international flyers, unaccompanied senior citizens, and family travelers with kids will mostly benefit from India’s Easy Connect Flights model. Immigration and baggage check-in at non-metro origin airports will not only ensure a great deal of convenience but also cut other expenses, like paid meet and greet service at hub airports. Family members of elderly travelers having international flights can relax and remain worry-free after seeing off them the home airport.
Air India Easy Connect Flights
As the lead airline partner for hub-and-spoke operations, Air India is launching Easy Connect flights from Varanasi to international destinations via New Delhi on 25 June 2026. The flight from Varanasi to DEL will be uniquely numbered as AI1111. The subsequent Air India flights from other ‘spoke’ (non-metro) airports to the hub airport will feature numbers in the AI11XX series under the Easy Connect program. Initially, Easy Connect flights are available for travelers from Varanasi to New Delhi, with connections to London, Frankfurt, Singapore, Dubai, Manila, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Phuket, Riyadh, and Kuala Lumpur.
Air India Easy Connect Program: Key details
- Web check-in is not available for Easy Connect flights
- Customs declaration is not available at the origin airport
- Check-in and immigration will be done at the origin airport
- Your baggage will be checked through to the final destination
- Your boarding pass to the final destination may be issued at the original airport.
- Non-Indian passengers’ document verification will be done in the transfer area at Delhi Airport
- Indian passengers must upload the boarding pass to DigiYatra and upload the boarding pass after airport check-in.
Are Easy Connect flights available from non-metro Indian airports to USA?
Starting 25 June, the Easy Connect program is available for Air India flights from Varanasi to Europe, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. The program may expand to Air India’s US gateways from non-metro Indian cities in the next phases. Subscribe to Travel Beats and stay tuned to Travel News for further updates.
