India’s aviation growth story touched newer highs in 2024 with record growth in traffic, big-ticket orders, mergers and acquisitions, and customer-centric initiatives. 

While spiritual tourism received a fillip with the opening of Ayodhya airport in January, regional connectivity aimed higher with the launch of Goa-based carrier FLY91 in March. Two airline startups — Air Kerala and Al Hind Air — announced plans to connect Kerala with other parts of the country in 2025.

The big story of the year was, of course, the consolidation in the sector. Following two sets of airline mergers at the Tata group — AIX Connect with Air India Express and Vistara with Air India — Air India has cemented its place as the country’s second largest aviation group. It made its growth ambitions clear with investments in a pilot training centre, maintenance repair and overhaul facilities, and an order for 100 new Airbus planes. Air India is locked in a fierce competition with IndiGo, which has pivoted from its no-frills brand to a hybrid carrier.

SpiceJet came back from the brink, raising ₹3,000 crore fresh capital in September. The airline is now stabilising its operations and paying off vendor dues. However, it was not a happy resolution for Go First and Jet Airways, both of which entered into liquidation.

Love of flying

Domestic airlines flew over 146 million passengers in the first 11 months of the year, registering a 6 per cent year-on-year growth. Daily passenger traffic also crossed the five-lakh mark on four occasions in the past 50 days. 

Digiyatra, the biometric-based paperless boarding process, is now available at 24 airports countrywide. A trusted traveller programme was rolled out at Delhi airport in June for quicker immigration checks.

December also saw the launch of Udan Yatri cafe at Kolkata airport, offering affordable snacks to travellers. 

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the cafe is a testament to the government’s vision to make air travel inclusive, affordable and accessible to all.

New airports, routes

Fliers can look forward to more new connections and improved travel experiences as airlines and airports expand their offerings in 2025.

Jewar and Navi Mumbai airports will begin operations in the first half of the year, helping ease the slot constraints and on-time performance challenges faced by airlines. 

While Jewar airport is adding nine extra parking bays to the originally planned 25, Delhi airport is streamlining its procedures for added efficiency and expansion.

These initiatives come even as domestic airlines receive new aircraft and restore their grounded fleet. 

Foreign airlines, too, are bullish about growth prospects. “We believe 2025 will be a pivotal year for India as it strengthens its position as a major global aviation centre, driven by increased demand and infrastructure investments,” says Shivani Singh Deo, country manager, Virgin Atlantic.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) plans to launch various initiatives to enhance terminal capacity. 

This includes optimising resource allocation in bays, gates, and other passenger touchpoints at terminal T3. 

While a predictive operations centre was rolled out in Hyderabad in December, Delhi airport will also have it soon. The system leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies for predictive planning of operations and real-time monitoring, a DIAL spokesperson says.

Noida International Airport (NIA) has been engaging with airlines even before it bid for the concession in 2019 to help design infrastructure that works well for carriers and passengers, says its CEO, Christoph Schnellmann. 

“We have optimised various aspects, such as facilitating swift turnaround times, expeditious flight transfers, and minimising walking distances for passengers. Airlines from across West Asia and Southeast Asia are expressing strong interest in the airport,” he says.

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Published on December 29, 2024