The Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has revealed ambitious plans to expand India’s aviation infrastructure in the coming years. In an interview with ET, Scindia announced that India aims to have 230-240 airports, including heliports and water aerodromes, by the year 2030. This represents a significant increase from the current count of 148 airports across the country.
Scindia emphasized the need for expanded capacity at metro airports to accommodate the growing number of planes and passengers. He highlighted the remarkable growth of India’s aviation sector in recent years, pointing out that the number of passengers carried by airlines has more than doubled since 2013-14.
“In 2013-14, there were 6 crore passengers; now the airlines are carrying about 14.5 crore passengers (annually),” Scindia stated. “Pre-Covid, our high was about 420,000 passengers a day. In the non-peak season this year, we crossed 460,000 on a single day. This indicates a new demand surge in the sector.” Scindia added
The government’s focus on expanding airport capacity and connectivity comes in the wake of the unprecedented growth in air travel witnessed in recent years. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s aviation sector has shown resilience, bouncing back with remarkable speed.
Minister Scindia’s ambitious plans to increase the number of airports in India reflect the government’s commitment to fostering a robust and sustainable aviation ecosystem. The move is set to enhance India’s position as a global aviation hub, providing increased convenience for travelers and boosting economic growth in the country.
