Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted that India is emerging as a global leader in space-aviation convergence. Addressing the International Air Transport Association, IATA’s 81st Annual General Meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today, the Prime Minister remarked that the civil aviation sector has witnessed historic advancements over the past decade, which are well recognised. He underscored India’s role in the global aviation ecosystem, not only as a vast market but also as a symbol of policy leadership, innovation, and inclusive development.
The Prime Minister also outlined three foundational pillars which are driving India’s aviation sector. The first is a vast market which not merely a collection of consumers but a reflection of India’s aspirational society and the second, a strong demographic and talent pool-where young innovators are pioneering breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, robotics, and clean energy. Mr Modi mentioned that the third pillar is an open and supportive policy ecosystem which enables industrial growth. Mr Modi emphasized that with these strengths, India is poised to elevate its aviation sector to unprecedented heights.
During his address, Mr Modi highlighted India’s remarkable transformation in civil aviation over the past years.noting that India has become the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world. Emphasizing the success of the UDAN scheme and calling it a golden chapter in Indian civil aviation history, Mr Modi stated that under this initiative, over 15 million passengers have benefitted from affordable air travel.
The Prime Minister remarked that India’s airlines continue to achieve double-digit growth, with 240 million passengers flying annually, surpassing the total population of most countries worldwide. He projected that by 2030, this number is expected to reach 500 million passengers. Mr Modi noted that 3.5 million metric tons of cargo are transported by air annually in India and this volume is set to increase to 10 million metric tons by the end of this decade. The Prime Minister highlighted that India is actively working on a futuristic roadmap to maximize this potential.
Urging international participants to familiarize themselves with the Digi Yatra app, the Prime Minister emphasized that it provides a complete, seamless travel solution using facial verification technology. He added that Digi Yatra stands as a secure and smart solution, serving as a model of inspiration for the Global South.Mentioning that Mission Manufacturing was announced in this year’s budget, reinforcing India’s focus on industrial growth, the Prime Minister highlighted the Protection of Interest in Aircraft Objects Bill, passed in Parliament this year, granting legal authority to the Cape Town Convention in India.
The Prime Minister highlighted that growth in the aviation sector translates to new flights, new jobs, and new possibilities, noting that the industry is creating expanding opportunities for pilots, crew members, engineers, and ground staff. The Prime Minister also pointed to the emergence of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) as a sunrise sector. He said, India is accelerating efforts to become a global hub for aircraft maintenance. He noted that in 2014, India had 96 MRO facilities, which has now increased to 154.
Speaking on the occasion, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said that the government is committed to develop 50 more airports in the next five years in the country. He said, the number of airports, which was only 74 in the country in 2014, has now gone up to 162, including 33 international airports. Mr Naidu said, this reflects a doubling of aviation infrastructure at an exponential pace, with the building of about eight airports annually. The Minister added that till April this year, India’s domestic air traffic grew by 10 percent outpacing the global rate of 8 percent. He credited the UDAN scheme for this growth.
The International Air Transport Association event, which commenced yesterday, will culminate tomorrow. The World Air Transport Summit will focus on key issues facing the aviation industry, including the economics of the airline industry, air connectivity, energy security, sustainable aviation fuel production, financing decarbonization, and innovations, among others.
During the event, leaders from around the world will get to witness India’s remarkable transformation in the aviation landscape and its contribution to the country’s socio-economic development. The last annual general meeting of IATA was held 42 years ago in 1983 .
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