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India, which has surpassed pre-covid levels in air traffic, is fast progressing towards a million passenger footfalls a day from its 131 airports during this peak tourist season. Many airline companies are starting new flights, resuming flights and expanding networks while India’s air bubble agreements are still on with 37 countries. New airports, new terminals and airport expansions are underway to handle the passenger surge.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said: “Indian economy is moving forward at a brisk pace and the country’s civil aviation sector is poised for phenomenal growth to have 400 million air travellers by 2027. 66 airports have become functional in last 7 years and we’ll have a total of 220 airports in 3 years.”

Oasis Lounge, CSMIA Terminal 1B

A new airport is opening in India an average of every two months. Cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Goa, Pune and Chennai are scheduled to get their second airports. New Terminals at Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru, Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair, Chennai international airport and Surat International Airports are ready to be commissioned this year. The integrated Terminal at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is getting revamped to handle more traffic.

Tiruchirapally International Airport at Trichy and Kolhapur Airport will have their new terminals ready next year. A new terminal is planned for Jaipur International Airport.

Minister Scindia said during the recent state tourism minister’s conference in Dharamshala: “16 states have reduced VAT (Value Added Tax) on ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) from 26 percent to less than 4 percent. Now almost all (28 states), barring a few exceptions, have VAT on ATF between one to 4 percent, which is helping airlines to add more flights. Reduced tax on ATF at Srinagar airport triggered traffic to Jammu and Kashmir.” The state received record (in 75 years) visitors this year.

The Airport Authority of India is readying India’s first Carbon-Neutral Airport at Leh in Himalayan Ladakh. Additionally, airport infrastructure is being implemented to connect to remote destinations in the country under the government’s UDAN (expansion translating to ‘let common citizen fly’) scheme. Currently, 70 UDAN airports are facilitating 433 routes.

India Aviation Ministry also encourages establishing last-mile connectivity to potential tourist destinations through helicopter and cable car services in mountainous terrain.

Minister Scindia said: “We are encouraging states to establish at least one heliport per district. Thus a minimum of 600 heliports are required. Government is also providing an incentive for establishing heliports under the UDAN scheme. That’s the best way of ensuring last mile connectivity-like in mountainous states of Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh or North East India. Even heli-services within big cities at affordable costs can offer relief to commuters. We have completed a study on HEMS (Heli Emergency Medical Services). We’re trying this out at AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Rishikesh.”

All this and more plans for airport infrastructure are sure to make the next few years happening times for India’s aviation.