₹96,000 crore invested in aviation sector, says Civil Aviation Minister

New Delhi

India has invested over ₹96,000 crore in its aviation sector over the last five years, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu informed Parliament on Thursday. This capital expenditure was made by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and its public-private partnership (PPP) projects between 2019–20 and 2024–25.

Currently, India has 162 operational airports, including heliports and water aerodromes. In 2024–25, Indian airports handled 412 million passengers, 335 million domestic and 77 million international, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. Indian airlines also operated on 835 domestic and 251 international routes during the same period.

The minister highlighted the success of the Regional Connectivity Scheme, UDAN, launched in 2016. So far, 637 routes have been activated under the scheme, connecting 92 underserved or unserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes. The UDAN scheme aims to make flying more affordable by capping ticket prices on routes supported by Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

Naidu also explained that upgrading airport infrastructure is an ongoing process, depending on factors like traffic demand, commercial viability, land availability, and aircraft safety needs.

Regarding new airports, the government follows the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008, which requires developers to identify land and conduct prefeasibility studies before submitting proposals. So far, the Centre has not received any such proposal for new airports at Palghar in Maharashtra or Pachmarhi and Matkuli in Madhya Pradesh.

The minister said these developments reflect India’s growing air travel demand and the government’s push to improve regional connectivity and modernise airport infrastructure.