At the Wings India 2024 event in Hyderabad, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled the Air India Airbus A350. He said that the government aims to become the third-largest domestic and international civil aviation market in the world.
“We are the 7th largest international aviation market and the 5th when our domestic and international capabilities are combined… It is our resolve to move from being the fifth-largest domestic and international civil aviation market in the world to the third-largest domestic and international civil aviation market,” said Union Civil Aviation Minister, reported news agency ANI.
He underlined that the true democratization of the civil aviation sector has taken place in the last decade.
Talking about growth in domestic passenger traffic, the minister said that last year, “we’ve closed at 15.2 crores”.
“Domestic passenger traffic from 6 crores, we grew to 14.5 crores… Last year, we’ve closed at 15.2 crores,” the minister said.
India has experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of close to 15 per cent over the past ten years, the Union Civil Aviation Minister said.
By 2030, the country is on target to become a 30 crore domestic aviation market, which means doubling from our current levels, he stressed.
While addressing the press conference, the minister also talked about Akasa’s order of 150 Boeing aircraft.
“Akasa’s order of 150 Boeing aircraft is the first order to be signed on Indian soil. This is in addition to the already 22 that are in their fleet and the balance 54 that are awaiting delivery…” he said.
“This follows the two orders that are landmarks as far as international orders are concerned – the order of Airbus and Boeing with Air India and IndiGo for 500 aircraft and 470 aircraft,” said Scindia.