India is accelerating efforts to build a world-class aviation, air cargo and MRO ecosystem as part of its ambition to emerge as a global aviation leader, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said on Tuesday. The government’s strategy, he said, focuses on scaling up cargo capacities, strengthening dedicated freighter operations, modernising airport infrastructure and establishing India as a competitive regional hub for maintenance, leasing and aviation finance.
Naidu reiterated the government’s long-term goal of expanding India’s airport network to 350 airports by 2047 — a target announced last month. India currently operates around 159–164 airports, indicating the country will need to add nearly 200 more in the next 20 years, a scale-up requiring unprecedented investment and fleet expansion. “The challenge is not building airports but bringing more aircraft to India,” he said.
The minister said the recently renovated Delhi Airport T2 terminal — reopening this Sunday after months of upgrades — is a critical piece of the strategy to turn the NCR region into an international aviation hub. Delhi airport is scaling toward 120 million annual passenger capacity, with T2 alone adding 15 million seats after expansion.
On safety, the minister said a “thorough investigation” is underway into the AI-171 crash, and a timeline cannot be predetermined.
Air Cargo Acceleration
Pitching for stronger cargo infrastructure, Naidu said India needs more dedicated freighters to unlock its logistics potential. While the US operates more than 200 freighter aircraft, India has only 17, he noted. Air cargo is a “significant revenue contributor,” and expanding freighter fleets will help create thousands of jobs, he added.
India’s air cargo throughput is projected to reach 10 million metric tonnes by 2030 and 21 million metric tonnes by 2047. The focus, he said, is on cutting the average processing time from eight hours to six and boosting efficiency across time-sensitive shipments.
He cited the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy as key enablers of multimodal connectivity. The I-CLASS initiative, which targets 79 airports by 2030, aims to streamline cargo operations, while the One Airport–One Product scheme is driving regional exports by integrating specialised supply chains for perishables and high-value goods.
Tech Partnerships Rise
India’s MRO ambitions also received a policy push, with Naidu highlighting reforms including 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route, a uniform 5 per cent GST on aircraft components and modernised regulatory frameworks to position India as a competitive Asia-Pacific hub for maintenance, leasing and aviation finance.
German technology partnerships will be crucial in this transformation, said Sven Klawunder, Ambassador of GATE Germany. Calling India “the fastest-growing airport market globally,” he said Germany is offering “holistic solutions” spanning biometrics, predictive maintenance, automated systems and digitalised cargo management. India, he said, stands “at the forefront of the global shift” driven by automation, sustainability and intelligent airport ecosystems.
He added that aviation leasing and financing — once at a nascent stage — is now emerging as a strategic pillar for India, with IFSC-GIFT City giving the country “a decisive foothold” in an area long dominated by foreign players. Strong policy support, he said, is building investor confidence, reducing airline costs and creating a skilled workforce in aviation finance.
On the industry side, Sanjiv Edward, Chair of the PHDCCI Civil Aviation Committee, said India has clearly “moved from vision to velocity.” He said airports are transforming into intelligent ecosystems, while leasing, financing, sustainability and digitalisation will define the next decade of aviation growth. “India is positioning itself as a global aviation leader,” he said.
Together, the policy reforms, cargo investments, digital innovation and global partnerships discussed at the conclave underline India’s accelerating push to lead the global aviation and logistics landscape.
The remarks were made at the 11th PHDCCI Global Aviation & Air Cargo Conclave held at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Delhi. The event convened industry leaders, global partners and policymakers to outline India’s next phase of aviation and cargo expansion. |
