Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday (September 11) highlighted the significant growth potential of the aviation sector and said that efforts are underway to position India as a global aviation hub and to begin aircraft manufacturing within the country.
Naidu pointed out that with the Asia-Pacific region set to lead global aviation growth, strategic investments in infrastructure and enhanced regional collaboration are essential for sustainable sector development.
Naicu made these remarks while addressing the second Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation in New Delhi. At the event, he underscored three key focus areas for the sector’s expansion: infrastructure, integration, and innovation.
“My ministry is working with the vision of establishing a seamless aviation landscape in the country, integrating helicopters and seaplane operations alongside wide-body aircraft under the regional connectivity scheme UDAN,” Naidu explained.
India’s aviation sector experiences rapid growth
India is rapidly emerging as one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets in the world. The fleet size of domestic carriers has surged from 400 in 2014 to approximately 800, while the number of domestic passengers has jumped from 67 million to 152 million over the same period.
The number of operational airports has also expanded from 74 in 2014 to 157, with plans to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047.
Additionally, Naidu noted that India is strategically positioned to offer cost-effective and high-quality Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services to both domestic and international airlines. The government is also focused on enhancing indigenous production capabilities and initiating aircraft manufacturing in the country.
Acknowledging the aviation industry’s role in global carbon emissions, Naidu emphasized India’s commitment to promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). “The target is to blend 1 per cent of sustainable aviation fuel with jet fuel in 2027, 2 per cent in 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030 for all international flights,” he added.
The two-day conference, which began on Wednesday, is expected to welcome around 250 representatives from 41 countries.