Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday assured rapid progress in the expansion of existing airports and the establishment of new ones as she presented the interim Budget for 2024-25.
Emphasising the revitalization of the country's aviation sector over the past decade, Sitharaman noted that the number of airports has doubled to 149 during this period.
Highlighting India's standing as one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets globally, Sitharaman underscored the proactive approach of Indian carriers, who have placed orders for over 1,000 new aircraft.
Domestic air passenger traffic is on the ascent, with a significant impact attributed to the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme, aimed at enhancing air connectivity to tier-two and tier-three cities.
"Five hundred and seventeen new routes are carrying 1.3 crore passengers," Sitharaman stated, emphasising the scheme's success in making flying more affordable.
Notably, three major domestic carriers—Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air—have collectively ordered an impressive total of 1,120 planes in less than a year, symbolising the robust growth and confidence in the aviation sector. Sitharaman highlighted recent substantial orders by Akasa Air and the combined orders by Air India and IndiGo from Boeing and Airbus, illustrating a vibrant and forward-looking trajectory for India's aviation landscape.
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