India’s aviation sector is experiencing a meteoric rise, fuelled by soaring demand and the government’s unwavering commitment to its growth through supportive policies. The industry has undergone a remarkable transformation, shedding its previous limitations and evolving into a vibrant and competitive sector. This dynamic shift has propelled India to the forefront of the global aviation ecosystem, becoming the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, after the USA and China.
The government’s commitment to nurturing aviation growth has been instrumental in this success story. A series of strategic initiatives have been implemented, each designed to empower the industry and unlock its full potential.
2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation
The 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation concluded on September 12, 2024, with the formal adoption of the landmark Delhi Declaration. Delhi Declaration sets a framework for enhancing regional cooperation, addressing aviation challenges, and fostering sustainable growth. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said “Our aim is to bring air travel to the common people. We need to make air travel safe, affordable, and accessible to all. The declaration, along with everyone’s efforts, will help us achieve that.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s technological and infrastructure achievements in civil aviation and emphasized the importance of making the sector more inclusive for women. He noted that 15% of India’s pilots are women, significantly higher than the global average of 5%, and mentioned the issuance of an advisory to further increase this number. Reflecting on the transformation of India’s aviation sector over the past decade, he remarked that India had shifted from an exclusive aviation environment to one that is inclusive, connecting people, cultures, and fostering prosperity. He said that initially aviation might have been limited to a select group or used primarily by elites in big cities with good air connectivity, but over time, it has become more accessible and inclusive, allowing more people from various socio-economic backgrounds to participate in air travel due to various initiatives and policy changes introduced and implemented by the government. The sector has gone from serving a small, privileged section of society to being more widespread and affordable, benefiting the general population specially from Tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
India’s aviation industry has experienced significant growth in the past 10 years. The number of operational airports in the country has doubled from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024 and the aim is to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047. The domestic air passengers have more than doubled in the past decade, with Indian airlines significantly expanding their fleets.
The springboard for this growth has been the government’s policies and initiatives. One such initiative is the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) launched in 2016, which aims to provide connectivity to unserved and underserved airports of the country through the revival of the existing airstrips and airports.
The Indian government is also placing a strong emphasis on sustainability. This is evident in the achievements of Delhi and Mumbai airports, both of which have been awarded the prestigious Level 4+ Carbon Accreditation. This recognition highlights their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting responsible aviation practice
