Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced on October 24 that India will require an additional 4,000 aircraft over the next two decades, underscoring the country’s rapidly growing aviation market. He also revealed plans to develop around 200 new airports during the same period, reflecting the government’s commitment to boosting infrastructure to meet surging demand.
India’s airlines currently operate a fleet of 800 planes, with more than 1,200 new aircraft already on order. Over the past decade, the number of operational airports in the country has doubled to 157, and 50 more are slated to be built within the next five years.
Economic Survey Highlights Unprecedented Growth Potential
The Economic Survey 2023-24 further highlighted the aviation sector’s exponential growth, projecting a total demand for over 2,200 aircraft by 2042. The combined order book across Indian airlines already exceeds 1,500 planes, reflecting strong confidence in the sector’s future.
The survey attributed this growth to multiple factors, including rising disposable incomes, increased economic activity, tourism expansion, favorable demographics, and greater penetration of aviation infrastructure.
Global Aviation Hub in the Making
With these developments, India is poised to become a global aviation hub. The government’s focus on expanding infrastructure and the private sector’s bullish aircraft orders signal a decade of transformative growth for the industry.
The ambitious plans for additional airports and a massive fleet expansion aim to cater to both domestic and international markets, offering India the potential to emerge as one of the world’s largest aviation markets by 2042.
