New Delhi: The Indian aviation industry has experienced substantial growth in the last one decade and placed itself as the third largest aviation industry in the world. The increasing number of operational airports, from 74 (2014) to 157 (2024), the Indian aviation industry has demonstrated its development.
From new airports rising from the ground, increasing aircraft orders, to cutting-edge infrastructure, the Indian aviation sector has ushered in an era of transformative growth.
Talking about the industry's booming growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a ministerial conference on civil aviation had said, “Today, India is among the top players in the global civil aviation ecosystem. In just one decade, India has achieved a significant transformation. In these years, India has evolved from a country exclusive to aviation to one that is inclusive of aviation.”
A look at some of the key milestones of the civil aviation sector:
● Growth in Domestic Passengers: The domestic air passenger traffic more than doubled to 22 crore 81 lakh in 2024, a significant increase from the 10 crore 38 lakh passengers in the 65 years preceding 2014. Over a decade, the domestic air passenger traffic has grown 10-12 per cent annually.
● Growth in International Traffic: International routes also experienced substantial growth, with 64.5 million passengers carried between January and November 2024, marking an 11.4 per cent increase.
● India Emerging as Top Global Aviation Market: The total number of air passengers annually has exceeded 350 million, establishing India as the third-largest aviation market globally.
● Green Energy Adoption at Airports: The Ministry of civil aviation has been actively promoting sustainable aviation, with nearly 80 airports currently operating on 100 per cent green energy.
● RCS-UDAN Connecting India: The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), has been one of the significant government commitments towards affordable air travel. Marking its ninth year since its launch in 2016, the scheme has operationalised 619 routes and connected 88 airports across the country. UDAN has facilitated affordable air travel for 1.5 crore passengers, and aims to extend this to 4 crore in the next ten years.
● Gender Inclusion: About 13–18 per cent of the pilots are women, ranking among the highest globally. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) targets 25 per cent representation of women in all aviation roles by this year.
To look at the vision and future of the aviation industry, GE Aerospace, a global leader in jet engines presents - NDTV Wings of Change, a series that will bring together the brightest minds, including industry leaders and policymakers to chart a roadmap for the future of India's aviation sector.
The discussion will be around the present challenges in the sector, how to leverage them, and explore the interplay between sustainability, market growth and technology.
GE Aerospace has been at the heart of India's commercial aviation sector for more than 40 years. It has been at the forefront of India's aviation sector. They have been significantly pioneering aerospace innovation for India and the world.
Talking about the current trends in the industry, Vikram Rai, CEO, GE Aerospace, South Asia, said, “Air travel has turned from luxury into a necessity in the last one decade. The passenger traffic has been growing from 3.3 - 3.5 per cent annually. In India, there has been an exceptional growth in the dometic traffic, becoming the third largest civil aviation market. This says a lot about the industry. We, at GE Aerospace, work on three trends - sustainability, reliability and operational efficiency.”
There are several milestones achieved by the Indian aviation sector. Adding to it now would be hosting The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The event, hosted by GE Aerospace, Indigo, Boeing, AIRBUS, among others will bring together top leadership from airlines, the aviation value chain and governments. It will also celebrate individuals and corporate leaders who are driving the change by honouring them with IATA diversity and inclusion awards.
Besides, the leaders will give a first-hand look at the current pressing issue of the aviation sector, how they are dealing with growing challenges in maintaining safe, secure, and reliable operations, deficiencies in infrastructure (airports and ANSPs), and much more.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) will take place on 1-3 June 2025, at the Bharat Mandapam - Convention Centre in New Delhi.
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