Wings India 2024. Domestic passenger traffic will reach 300 million by 2030, says Jyotiraditya Scindia

Domestic passenger air traffic is expected to reach 300 million per annum by 2030, up from 153 million in 2023, according to Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Speaking at the inaugural session of WingsIndia 2024, the flagship event organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, and FICCI here on Thursday, the Minister said: “This is the potential India holds, not only for itself but also for the world.’’

Stating that India “has been a shining star in the world of civil aviation,’’ the Minister said the daily domestic passenger traffic reached 4.50 lakh in April-March last year, which further increased to 4.67 lakh during Nov-Dec 2023. The domestic cargo traffic grew by 60 per cent in the last 15 years while the growth was 53 per cent in international cargo, he added.

The domestic market has grown at a CAGR of 15.3 per cent and international travel has grown by 6.1 per cent in the last 10 years. India is the third largest domestic market and the seventh in international civil aviation. “We will still be one of the under-penetrated markets among the top 20 in the world,’‘ Scindia said.

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Capacity

“The Journey of the aviation industry from ‘Amritkal to Shatabdhi Kal’ (From now till 2047) will be dotted by infrastructure development and innovations, apart from increased connectivity,” the Minister said. 

The Centre has been preparing to tap the potential in civil aviation through a slew of measures and the civil aviation industry will be able to fully support the $20 trillion dollar economy of the county by 2047, he added. 

The airport throughput (accommodated demand) in the six metros of the country had gone up from 221 million in 2021 to 261 million in 2023. “In the next four years, this will reach 420 million with two brand new Greenfield airports coming up in Delhi and Mumbai,’‘ he said. 

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Udan

The Udan 5.3 Scheme, formally launched today for enhanced regional connectivity, will provide a special bidding ground for airliners for operations. “Since its first launch in 2017, the UDAN scheme transformed the aviation sector in the country, the Minister said.

During the course of the Scheme, 76 new airports, waterdromes, and helipads were set up, and 517 new routes were made operational, providing last-mile connectivity through small flights and helicopters. This has been a priority of the Centre to reach remote areas in the North East and Kashmir. A special focus was also on women and about 1,000 women drone pilots will be trained, Scindia said.  

Remi Maillard, Chairman, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee and President and Managing Director Airbus – India, said that India today is the fastest-growing commercial market with traction in manufacturing components for the aviation industry, he said adding that the country is also a ‘growth engine’ for the global aviation industry. 

The next revolution in the industry will be decarbonisation and India has the capability and technology to lead the world, he said. 

V K Singh, Minister of State Civil Aviation, stated that with the current pace of growth in airport infrastructure and traffic, among other factors, Indian Civil Aviation is “lucrative“ to the world and will contribute to both national and global GDP growth. 

Telangana Minister Kimati Reddy Venkat Reddy requested airlines to launch a direct flight from Hyderabad to the USA. 

Wings India 24 is Asia’s largest event on Commercial, General, and Business Aviation and is also the flagship conference of the country. The four-day event, which began today, will continue till January 21, 2024. 

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