Efforts on to make India a global aviation hub, manufacture aircraft: Minister of Civil Aviation Mr. K Rammohan Naidu

Minister of Civil Aviation Mr. K Rammohan Naidu highlighted India’s potential in the aviation sector, stating that efforts are underway to transform the country into a global aviation hub and initiate domestic aircraft manufacturing. Speaking at the second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation in New Delhi, he emphasised the importance of infrastructure, integration, and innovation for the sector’s growth. With the Asia-Pacific region leading global aviation expansion, he stressed the need for strategic investments and collaboration among regional stakeholders to ensure sustainable growth.

India’s civil aviation market is one of the fastest growing globally, with the domestic fleet size increasing from 400 in 2014 to around 800 and domestic passenger numbers rising from 67 million to 152 million during the same period. The number of operational airports has grown from 74 in 2014 to 157, with plans to scale this to 350-400 airports by 2047. He also noted that India is well-positioned to offer cost-effective and high-quality Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services to domestic and international airlines. The government is focused on boosting indigenous production capabilities and launching aircraft manufacturing within the country. Additionally, India is promoting the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), aiming to blend 1% of SAF with jet fuel by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030 for international flights. The two-day conference saw the participation of around 250 representatives from 41 countries.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.