NEW DELHI: Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu outlined India's efforts to establish itself as a global aviation hub and initiate aircraft manufacturing within the country. Speaking at the second Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation, Naidu emphasized the sector's growth potential and the importance of infrastructure, integration, and innovation.
Naidu highlighted the need for strategic investments and regional collaboration to ensure sustainable growth in the aviation sector. He revealed that India is focusing on creating a seamless aviation environment by integrating various operations, including helicopters, seaplanes, and wide-body aircraft, under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
India's civil aviation market has experienced rapid growth, with the domestic fleet size increasing from 400 to around 800 aircraft since 2014. The number of domestic passengers has surged from 67 million to 152 million during the same period. Additionally, the number of operational airports has grown from 74 to 157, with plans to expand to 350-400 airports by 2047.
Naidu also noted India's potential to provide cost-effective and high-quality Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for both domestic and international airlines. The government is exploring ways to enhance indigenous production capabilities and initiate aircraft manufacturing in the country.
Addressing environmental concerns, Naidu highlighted India's push for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The goal is to blend 1% SAF with jet fuel by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030 for international flights.
The two-day conference, which started on Wednesday, is expected to see participation from around 250 representatives across 41 countries.
