Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Friday that the Modi government's vision has led to the construction of 75 new airports in the last decade, aiming to make air travel more accessible to a larger segment of the population. He expressed optimism about the upward trajectory of the aviation sector, emphasizing its untapped potential. The government has ambitious plans to increase the current count of 149 airports in the country to 220 within the next 5 to 7 years.
Scindia noted the transformation in the aviation landscape, shifting from past narratives of airline closures in India to the establishment of new carriers, demonstrating the changing dynamics of the industry. The minister spoke at the formal inauguration of the Aircraft Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility of AAR-Indamer in Nagpur's Mihan SEZ, describing it as a significant milestone in India's MRO evolution.
Highlighting the historical journey of civil aviation in India, Scindia emphasized the sector's tremendous growth over the last century. He revealed that India had only 400 aircraft a decade ago, and that number has now risen to 713, with plans for further expansion. The minister shared details of significant aircraft orders, with Air India and IndiGo securing 470 and 500 planes respectively, illustrating the vast potential in the aviation sector.
Scindia credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the birth of four new airlines, all aimed at making air travel accessible to the common man and fostering development. He highlighted the positive trends in the aviation industry, with 75 new airports built in the past decade and a vision to increase this number to 220 in the coming years, backed by a substantial capital expenditure plan of Rs 1 lakh crore.
The minister also pointed out the substantial growth in air passenger traffic, which has surged by 130 percent over the past decade. Looking ahead, he discussed Asia's role in international passenger traffic, projecting an increase to 50 percent by 2040. Scindia praised the MRO sector's growth, particularly with the collaboration between Indamer of India and AAR of the USA.
In his role as a facilitator, Scindia mentioned Boeing's plans to establish a facility for converting passenger jets into freight aircraft for India's cargo sector. He shared upcoming developments, including Boeing's inauguration of its largest engineering and design facility outside the USA in Bengaluru, costing nearly USD 200 million.
After inaugurating the AAR-Indamer MRO facility, Scindia reviewed the new terminal building at Pune airport, reiterating the government's commitment to increasing the number of airports in the country to 200 by 2030. He highlighted the upcoming inauguration of the Pune airport's new terminal building, featuring a heritage look and elements reminiscent of Shaniwar Wada, including a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
(With Agency Inputs)
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