NEW DELHI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India’s aviation sector has witnessed a historic transformation over the past decade, emerging as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. Addressing the Wings India 2026 programme in Hyderabad via video conferencing, he said this growth reflects the government’s long-term vision to make air travel affordable and accessible to all, noting a sharp rise in passenger traffic and airline orders of over 1,500 aircraft in recent years.
Highlighting infrastructure and future plans, the Prime Minister said the number of airports has increased from 70 in 2014 to over 160, with more than 100 aerodromes activated, while the UDAN scheme has enabled 1.5 crore passengers to fly on new regional routes. He said India is moving towards self-reliance in aviation through domestic aircraft manufacturing, a strong MRO ecosystem, and sustainable aviation fuel, adding that with reforms in cargo, logistics and connectivity, India is poised to become a major global aviation and trans-shipment hub, with over 400 airports envisioned by 2047.
