India’s airport infrastructure has expanded from 74 operational airports in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with plans to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047. The minister said that the domestic air passengers have more than doubled in the past decade, with Indian airlines significantly expanding their fleets and government’s focus on world-class infrastructure.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, yesterday inaugurated the 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation (APMC) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Speaking at conference, the minister emphasized India’s leadership in promoting gender equality in aviation, with women constituting 15% of the country’s pilots, three times the global average. India’s target is to increase women’s participation in the aviation workforce to 25% by 2025, shared Naidu by calling for a collaborative effort among Asia-Pacific members to build a skilled aviation workforce, integrate advanced air mobility technologies, and ensure the sector’s sustainability. He expressed optimism for the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which will serve as a roadmap for elevating aviation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Recalling India’s efforts in fostering a robust drone innovation ecosystem with initiatives like the Drone Didi Yojna, which aims to train 15,000 women in operating drones for agricultural purposes. Further, highlighting the growth story of civil aviation in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Union Minister noted that commercial aviation in the region began nearly a century ago, and today, the region is poised to become the largest aviation market by 2035, with over 3.5 billion passengers annually. He called for strategic investments in infrastructure and collaboration among regional stakeholders to ensure sustainable and balanced growth across the sector.
Naidu outlined India’s rapid advancements in aviation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Naidu said, “India’s airport infrastructure has expanded from 74 operational airports in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with plans to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047”. He also added that the domestic air passengers have more than doubled in the past decade, with Indian airlines significantly expanding their fleets. He also emphasized the government’s focus on world-class infrastructure with the development of new international airports and the expansion of major airports like Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai.
The Civil Aviation Minister also shared India’s successful Regional Connectivity Model through the UDAN scheme, which has opened 583 new regional routes and made air travel accessible to underserved and unserved regions. He reiterated India’s commitment to making flying affordable for all citizens, with a vision of integrating helicopters, seaplanes, and widebody aircraft under the UDAN scheme.
Emphasising on the three pillars of aviation—Infrastructure, Integration, and Innovation, Naidu underscored “How India has been leading the way in incorporating modern technologies like Digi Yatra, a biometric-based digital tool for seamless travel. He also highlighted India’s recent regulatory advancements in Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, paving the way for sustainable and innovative urban air mobility.”
Naidu also stressed on the government’s focus on creating a conducive business environment in aviation, with policies supporting Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, aircraft leasing, and indigenous manufacturing. The Minister highlighted the introduction of new MRO Guidelines and the permitting of 100% FDI through automatic route have been key steps towards making India a global aviation hub.
The aviation minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to safe and secure air travel, calling for greater collaboration among nations to uphold aviation safety standards. He also urged the nations in Asia-Pacific region to work together on improving navigation systems and safety in air traffic management.
Recognizing the global need for sustainable aviation, Naidu called for increased adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and energy-efficient airport infrastructure. He highlighted India’s goal to blend SAF with jet fuel for international flights and shared the success of carbon-neutral airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Cochin.
Other highlight of the conference was Mohan Naidu’s nomination as Chairman of the APMC after being nominated by Singapore and recommended by Bhutan. Solomon Islands and Nepal supported the nomination of Viliame Rogoibuli Gavoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation of Fiji, as Vice Chairman of the conference.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol stated, “It is an honour to stand together and be a part of one of the largest events of the aviation industry in the Asia-Pacific region. It is heartening to be part of deliberations on the crucial aspects of aviation ranging from aviation safety to air navigation and from security to green aviation. The collective outcome of these deliberations would be the cornerstone of regional cooperation among various countries and will go a long way in ensuring a sustainable future of civil aviation.”
Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, in his welcome address, stated that we are honoured to gather here today with senior policymakers, aviation professionals, and delegates from Asia Pacific countries to discuss the future of civil aviation. He said “As we celebrate 80 years of ICAO, it is a moment to reflect on how far we have come and how robust our journey has been, despite the challenges faced in the past. Civil aviation in the Asia Pacific region holds great potential for growth, and this conference offers a platform to address key issues and opportunities collaboratively”.
Addressing the Gathering, President, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Salvatore Sciacchitano said that this gathering is crucial for addressing new challenges in global aviation, especially in the Asia Pacific region, which accounts for 32% of global traffic and holds immense growth potential. He also mentioned that the region has shown remarkable resilience, surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels by early 2024, significant challenges remain. He called for collaboration to close this gap and ensure the aviation sector’s sustainable growth.
