20th Annual Conference on AIRPORTS IN INDIA, Le Meridien, New Delhi, Delhi, India.

India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. Over the years, the sector has witnessed significant growth in passenger traffic, cargo movement, and connectivity. Passenger traffic has grown 10-12x in the past decade. During 2024-25, Indian airports handled a record 400 million passengers and 3.7 mt of freight.

In terms of infrastructure, India currently has 163 operational airports, including heliports and water aerodromes. The government plans to take this number to 350 by 2047.

Ongoing expansions at major airports like Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai are enhancing the sector’s capacity. Commercial operations are expected to begin soon at Navi Mumbai. Meanwhile, significant progress is being made at other key greenfield airports including Jewar (Noida), Bhogapuram and Dholera. This capacity augmentation bodes well for the sector as the passenger traffic is expected to cross 1 billion by 2047.

Major Indian airlines are placing record aircraft orders, with the country’s total fleet size expected to double by 2030. New cargo facilities, such as the Bengaluru domestic cargo terminal, are being added to meet the government’s target of handling 10 mt of air cargo by 2030.

The UDAN scheme has enhanced regional connectivity by operationalising 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes.

The government is also promoting local aircraft manufacturing, encouraging aircraft leasing through GIFT City and strengthening the MRO sector.

Technology solutions are being widely adopted to make airports smarter, safer and more passenger-friendly. The adoption of Digi Yatra is being seen as a game changer for air travel. Self-service kiosks for check-in and baggage tag printing are now standard at major airports. Meanwhile solutions such as BIM and digital twins are assisting in the construction and O&M of airport assets.

Greenfield projects and brownfield expansions now feature advanced terminal designs with a growing focus on sustainability. Airports are increasingly embracing green practices, turning to renewable energy and energy-efficient systems, and investing in electric and low-emission ground support equipment to reduce airside emissions.a