Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu outlined a growth plan to expand India's aviation sector to more than 350 airports by 2047 [1].
The roadmap aims to modernize the nation's air infrastructure to accommodate a surge in passenger demand while reducing reliance on foreign training for pilots.
Naidu said the plan includes adding approximately 3,000 aircraft to the national fleet [2]. This expansion of hardware is paired with a push for human capital, including a 25% surge in flying-training hours [3]. To support this growth, the government intends to add 11 new Flying Training Organisations [4].
Increasing the number of Commercial Pilot Licences is a central pillar of the strategy. Naidu said the government is focusing on the ‘Train in India’ initiative to strengthen local capacity, a move designed to keep training domestic and cost-effective.
Safety and efficiency will be addressed through the digitization of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) licensing. This shift to digital systems is intended to streamline the certification process and reduce administrative delays.
The comprehensive strategy targets both the physical infrastructure of the airport network and the regulatory framework governing flight safety. By expanding the number of operational hubs and the available aircraft, the ministry seeks to make air travel more accessible across different regions of the country.
“expand India's aviation sector to more than 350 airports by 2047”
This roadmap signals India's intent to transition from a developing aviation market to a global hub. By emphasizing 'Train in India' and digitizing DGCA licensing, the government is attempting to remove the primary bottlenecks—pilot shortages and bureaucratic friction—that often hinder rapid fleet expansion.
