Union ministry considers Tirupati for hub-and-spoke international connectivity
TIRUPATI: The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is considering Tirupati among several cities for its next Hub-and-Spoke model to expand international air connectivity to tier II and III centres, Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday.
The announcement follows the implementation of the hub-and-spoke arrangement in Ahmedabad, and comes as the ministry evaluates requests and feedback from regional stakeholders. According to the minister, the shortlist for the next phase includes Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Darbhanga, Madurai and Tirupati, which will be examined for suitability to connect passengers from smaller cities to international destinations via major central hubs such as Delhi.
"After Ahmedabad, my office is working on establishing international air connectivity to more tier II and III cities... Based on the feedback and requests received, the ministry will consider airports in Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Darbhanga, Madurai, and Tirupati for the next Hub-and-Spoke model," Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said.
The hub-and-spoke model routes international flights through major hubs where passengers from surrounding smaller airports are linked — or 'spoked' — to onward international services. For Tirupati, which hosts a busy domestic airport serving pilgrims and regional travellers, inclusion in the scheme could mean new international transfer options and stronger airline interest in routing services through larger hubs.
- Potential benefits: Improved international connectivity for passengers from Tirupati and nearby districts; easier transfer to overseas flights via central hubs.
- Economic impact: Possible uplift for tourism, hospitality and allied services if international transfer traffic grows.
- Operational considerations: Airports selected for the scheme will be assessed on passenger volumes, infrastructure readiness and stakeholder requests, the ministry indicated.
Which cities are on the MoCA shortlist?
| City | Role |
|---|---|
| Visakhapatnam | Major regional airport on east coast |
| Coimbatore | Industrial and educational hub in Tamil Nadu |
| Darbhanga | Key airport in Bihar serving regional routes |
| Madurai | Pilgrimage and cultural centre in Tamil Nadu |
| Tirupati | Pilgrimage city in Andhra Pradesh |
The ministry statement cited the role of feedback and formal requests in framing the next round of cities under consideration. It did not include a timeline, specific infrastructure commitments or details on which central hubs will be paired with each shortlisted airport beyond the reference to major hubs such as Delhi.
For Tirupati residents and businesses, the practical implications hinge on decisions yet to be taken by airlines and the ministry. If progressed, the hub-and-spoke approach could reduce travel times to international destinations by offering coordinated connections through larger airports; it could also encourage scheduled feeder services to timed connections at the hub.
Transport and hospitality stakeholders in Tirupati have in past years sought improved air links to support steady pilgrim flows and expanding commercial activity. Inclusion on the ministry’s shortlist signals recognition of Tirupati’s role in regional travel networks, but the final impact will depend on technical assessments of passenger throughput, runway and terminal capacity, ground-handling arrangements and airline commercial interest.
MoCA has previously implemented the model in Ahmedabad as a pilot for linking tier II and III cities with international services via a central hub. The ministry said the next phase will be informed by stakeholder feedback and demand signals from the regions under consideration.
