India's Aviation Boom: Expanding Horizons with Airstrips and Regulations

India's civil aviation sector is experiencing rapid growth. The ministry plans to develop more airstrips and calibrate regulations to boost connectivity. The number of airports has doubled in a decade, and efforts are being made to integrate defence airfields for civil use. The focus is also on sustainable aviation fuel and addressing taxation for MRO services.

The civil aviation ministry is on a mission to enhance India's air connectivity by developing more airstrips and fine-tuning regulations for both major and smaller airports, according to a senior official on Wednesday.

India stands as one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets globally, with domestic air traffic escalating and airlines expanding their fleets and operations.

In the last decade, the number of operational airports has surged to 157 from 74, highlighted Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam. The ministry plans to transform more airstrips into brownfield projects. Efforts are also underway to jointly develop defence airfields for civil aircraft operations.

During the CAPA India Aviation Summit 2024, the secretary emphasized the need to adjust regulations to further boost air connectivity, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. With significant aircraft orders from IndiGo and Air India, the ministry aims to create a supportive ecosystem for airline expansion.

The government is committed to the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and addressing taxation hurdles for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations. The paperwork is ready for the Cape Town Convention (CTC) to facilitate aircraft leasing legislation, he added.

Projections for FY2024-25 by Capa India indicate a 6-8% rise in domestic air traffic to 161-164 million, and a 9-11% increase in international traffic to 75-78 million.