Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu outlines plans for 350 Indian airports by 2047 to support surging domestic air travel.
On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on 20 January 2026, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced India’s ambition to establish approximately 350 airports by 2047. This expansion is a key component of the Viksit Bharat initiative, with an immediate objective to construct 50 new airports over the next five years.
The Minister noted that the nation has already increased its airport count from 74 in 2014 to 164 at present. He attributed this progress to strategic policy-making, significant capital investment, and the democratisation of air travel through improved regional links. Currently the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, India is maintaining a steady annual growth rate of 10 to 12 per cent, supported by a massive backlog of nearly 1,700 aircraft orders from domestic carriers.
Beyond infrastructure, various state delegations from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam held discussions with international conglomerates to explore technological partnerships. Naidu emphasised that India seeks collaborative, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions for the future of global aviation during the summit, which concludes on 23 January 2026.
SOURCE – ANI
