Aviation Industry Development in India and Key Government Programs
Saif Rehman
Technical Leader | Strategic Advisor | Driving Innovation & Operational Excellence
India’s aviation industry has experienced remarkable growth over the past few decades, becoming one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. To support this growth, the Indian government has launched several key initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, modernizing airport infrastructure, and encouraging private sector participation. Below are some of the major programs and policies that have shaped the aviation sector in India.
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1. UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) – Launched in 2016
The UDAN scheme is a flagship initiative aimed at making air travel more affordable and accessible for the common citizen. Its primary objective is to improve regional air connectivity by offering subsidies to airlines operating on underserved or unserved routes. The program has played a crucial role in boosting air traffic in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and bringing air connectivity to remote regions of India.
2. Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)
The Regional Connectivity Scheme is part of the broader UDAN initiative. It focuses on improving air travel between smaller cities and regional hubs by offering financial incentives to airlines and making air travel more economical for passengers in these areas.
3. Make in India
Under the “Make in India” initiative, the government encourages domestic manufacturing in the aviation sector, Encourage MRO, including aircraft components, systems, and airport infrastructure. The program aims to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and promote local manufacturing and innovation to reduce dependency on imports and support the development of indigenous aviation technologies.
4. National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)
The National Civil Aviation Policy focuses on enhancing regional connectivity and promoting competition among airlines to improve air travel accessibility and affordability. NCAP includes several measures such as the regional connectivity scheme, liberalization of foreign direct investment, and streamlining regulatory processes to boost efficiency in the aviation sector. The policy also encourages the development of greenfield airports and promotes public-private partnerships (PPP) for airport development.
5. NABH (NextGen Airports for Bharat) Nirman
NABH Nirman is an ambitious plan aimed at modernizing and expanding India’s airport infrastructure. It focuses on upgrading existing airports and constructing new airports across the country to meet the rising demand for air travel. The program envisions building infrastructure that can handle over one billion passengers annually, making India a global aviation hub.
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Initiatives for Digital Transformation in Aviation
1. Digi Yatra
The Digi Yatra initiative seeks to provide passengers with a seamless, paperless travel experience through the use of biometric technology. It enables travelers to use facial recognition for check-in, security, and boarding, thereby reducing wait times and improving operational efficiency at airports.
2. E-Gate
As part of the government's digital transformation efforts, E-Gate allows automated entry and exit of passengers at airports using digital verification, further enhancing security and efficiency in airport operations.
3. Air Cargo Policy
The government is also working on an Air Cargo Policy aimed at modernizing and improving India’s air cargo infrastructure. The policy focuses on increasing cargo capacity, reducing turnaround times, and promoting the development of air cargo hubs to support trade and economic growth.
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These government programs and policies have significantly contributed to the rapid development of India's aviation sector, helping the country emerge as a global aviation powerhouse. With ongoing investments in infrastructure, digitalization, and regional connectivity, India's aviation industry is poised for continued growth in the coming years.
Subject Matter Expert-TCS VP-Gold Smith Institute of Advanced Research Former Professor-Aviation, Galgotias University Former General Manager-HR,AAI Former Head HR, TRUJET Airlines PhD in Aviation Management(Pursuing)
1 周NotAgreed. My inputs on regional connectivity, Udan scheme,MRO and new Bharat airport are different to your viewpoint. Almost a decade is over when Udan scheme was launched and regional connectivity by air was introduced. Number of airline started their operations, but finally they collapsed due to non-availability of passengers on such routes in the regions. If we talk about tire 1 or 2 cities, people who are residing in these cities are migrating to other tire 1 cities to earn their livelihood.(very low income)THIS IS THE REASON PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERESTED TO TRAVEL TO TIRE 2 or 3 CITIES BY AIR. FURTHER COVID HAS PLAYED A DIFFERENT ROLE GLOBALLY. Even the low cost airline GOAIR has stopped its operations and Spice jet is the next one Star airline,a regional airline is expanding their wings to tire 1 cities to survive. Air India and Indigo are the two major airlines who are also facing various issues and there are doubts that these airlines will operate in the regional sector. Construction of airport intire 1 or 2 cities is easy, but how many AirPorts are operational & heavy cost of maintenance is the burning issue. Same is with MRO industry as repair and maintenance cost is very high and parts are not available.