India is the fastest-growing civil aviation market in the world. They have been expanding across the spectrum in the sector, with the number of airports in the country going up from 74 in 2013-14 to almost 140 (including Heliports and water domes).
The Indian government aims to increase airports to 220 by 2024- 25. There were 400 aircraft in the country then, and the number has gone up to 710 in 7 years. It is intended that more than 100 aircraft should join every year.
Recently, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia highlighted that the Civil Aviation sector would play an important role in the country’s development.
He said that the sector has an economic multiple of 3.1 and an employment multiple of 6.1. It means that the investment of a rupee in the civil aviation space adds Rs 3.1 to the economy in the long run, and for every one direct employment, 6.1 indirect jobs are created. He said that Civil aviation is one of the largest employment and output-generating sectors globally.
“In the last 70 years, 74 airports were developed, but in the last 7 years, under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we have created 66 new airports, taking the total to 140 airports operational in the country. In the Northeast, 9 airports were operationalised, but today 15 airports have been established in the last 7 years,” Scindia said in a meeting on April 12, 2022, after flagging off the first flight of Made in India HAL Dornier Do-228.
The civil aviation sector will play an important role in the country’s development. Civil aviation is one of the largest employment and output-generating sectors globally.
The agenda of Gati Shakti, given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has a twin-pronged initiative and synergy of providing speed and the power to drive India for years to come. It is planned to help India emerge as a new power with a lot of focus on infrastructure development. The building of infrastructure is not confined to the economic centres but is being provided in all parts of the country, including Civil Aviation.
Upgradation/Modernisation of airports is a continuous process. It is undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other Airport Developers from time to time, depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socio-economic considerations, and traffic demand/willingness of airlines to operate to/from such airports.
AAI and other Airport Developers have targeted a capital outlay of approximately Rs. 91000 crore in the airport sector in the next five years for expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals, and strengthening runways, among other activities.