The Prime Minister underlined that rising air connectivity would also boost tourism, with upgraded destinations and growing preference for air travel creating fresh investment opportunities. He said demand for air travel is set to grow at an unprecedented pace in the coming years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India’s aviation sector has undergone a historic transformation over the past decade, emerging as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, driven by sustained policy focus, rapid airport expansion and efforts to make air travel affordable and inclusive.
Addressing the Wings India 2026 programme in Hyderabad via video conferencing, Modi said the government’s long-term vision had transformed air travel from an “exclusive club” into a mass mode of transport. He noted that passenger traffic has surged, and Indian airlines have placed orders for more than 1,500 aircraft in recent years, reflecting strong growth prospects.
The Prime Minister said India had just 70 airports in 2014, a number that has since risen to over 160, with more than 100 aerodromes activated across the country. He said the UDAN scheme had played a key role in connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, enabling affordable regional air travel. Around 1.5 crore passengers, he said, have travelled on UDAN routes, many of which did not exist earlier.
Looking ahead, Modi said India’s air connectivity is expected to expand sharply as the country moves towards becoming a developed nation. By 2047, India is projected to have more than 400 airports. He added that the government is working on the next phase of the UDAN scheme to further strengthen regional connectivity and expand seaplane operations, ensuring access to even remote regions.
The Prime Minister underlined that rising air connectivity would also boost tourism, with upgraded destinations and growing preference for air travel creating fresh investment opportunities. He said demand for air travel is set to grow at an unprecedented pace in the coming years.
PM Modi also stressed the need for self-reliance in aviation, highlighting the government’s push to reduce dependence on imports. India, he said, is already a major manufacturer and supplier of aircraft components and has begun producing military and transport aircraft domestically, while progressing towards civil aircraft manufacturing. He pointed to India’s strategic location along global air corridors, a strong domestic feeder network and expanding long-haul fleets as key advantages.
The Prime Minister said India is also working on emerging technologies such as electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and sustainable aviation fuel, with the potential to become a major producer and exporter of green aviation fuel. He added that ongoing reforms are positioning India as a key aviation gateway between the Global South and the world.
