A smoother path abroad from Kashi: Air India's new 'Easy Connect' links Varanasi flyers to Delhi and the world

Travellers flying out of Varanasi now have a simpler route to the wider world. Air India has launched a service called "Easy Connect" from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, designed to make international journeys through Delhi far less of a hassle for Kashi's passengers. Under the service, which began on 25 June, a daily flight (AI1111) carries travellers from Varanasi to Delhi, timed so that within about four hours of landing they can catch onward Air India flights to a range of overseas cities. According to the airline, the connections span 17 international destinations, including London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Rome, Zurich, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. The real convenience is in the paperwork. Passengers can complete check-in and baggage drop in Varanasi, with luggage checked straight through to the final destination, and clear the connection at Delhi without collecting and re-checking bags. For pilgrims, students and families from eastern Uttar Pradesh who once had to travel to a metro first, it means one seamless booking from home. Air India has said Varanasi is among the first spoke cities in a wider hub-and-spoke plan, with more cities to follow. For Kashi, already a magnet for visitors from around the world, it is a welcome step that makes the city feel a little closer to everywhere.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Aero News Global · Outlook Traveller