Air passenger traffic is expected to further rise this year due to G20 meetings and other factors, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday as he highlighted the progress made by the country's civil aviation sector. The government is also making efforts to make the country a hub for MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) activities of aircraft, increase the number of operational flight routes as well as the airports, according to the minister.
India is the world's third largest aviation market and air traffic is on the rise after the sector was significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Reddy, who is the tourism minister, said there will be an increase in air passenger traffic by the end of 2023 due to G20 meetings and other factors.
Aviation is key for tourism and cultural exchanges, Reddy, who is also in charge of the Ministries of Culture, and Development of North Eastern Region, said. According to the minister, domestic passengers in India have more than doubled from 60 million in 2014 to 143 million in 2020 prior to Covid-19. There has also been a significant increase in international air passengers from 23 million to 35 million.
On February 12, domestic air passenger traffic touched 4,37,800 on 2,935 flights, with the civil aviation ministry saying: "Indian Aviation reaches new heights as domestic aviation operations soar higher with the highest ever post-Covid passenger movement." Talking about the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik), Reddy said an amount of Rs 2,360 crore has been given as viability gap funding for the scheme so far.
He said that more than 460 UDAN routes involving 73 airports, including nine heliports and two water aerodromes, have been operationalised. Around 76 routes connect the north-east and the tourism ministry also funds more than 50 routes as well as has approved another 10 under the scheme. The number of operational airports has increased to 147 from 74 in a little over 8 years. The aim is to have 220 airports in the coming years.
