Over 90% of Airport Capex Deployed in Last Five Years: Economic Survey.

India’s airport infrastructure investment has achieved 91% of the planned ₹91,000 crore outlay from FY20 to FY25, as per the Economic Survey FY25 presented in Parliament on Friday. The capital expenditure has supported the construction, refurbishment, and expansion of airports, including major projects like Noida International and Navi Mumbai airports.

The survey highlighted the PM Gati Shakti initiative, which is integrating the aviation sector with railways, roads, and waterways to enhance connectivity. The Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme has also played a key role in expanding regional air links, with 619 routes operationalized across 88 airports, including two water aerodromes and 13 heliports.

Citing India as the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, the survey noted that domestic airlines have placed orders for 1,500 aircraft, adding to the country’s current fleet of over 800 commercial planes. Passenger traffic surged 6.12% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 16.13 crore. Boeing’s projections estimate over 2,700 new aircraft deliveries in India by 2042, accounting for more than 90% of South Asia’s total orders.

The survey also reported growth in air cargo handling, which rose to 8 million tonnes in FY24 from 7.5 million tonnes in FY23. In the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) segment, the government has incentivized original equipment manufacturers to establish facilities in India and introduced tax reforms to support sector growth.

India’s drone ecosystem is expanding, with ₹60.6 crore disbursed under the PLI scheme. As of October 31, 2024, the country has 140 remote pilot training organizations, 18,862 certified drone pilots, and 26,659 registered drones.

Additionally, 32 aircraft leasing entities have been registered at GIFT-IFSC as of November 30, 2024, facilitating the lease of 105 aviation assets, including 53 aircraft and 52 engines.

HBL