Aviation: Sidhaniya said - the number of air passengers will be 30 crores; We are the largest aircraft buyer after US-China

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday that the number of domestic air passengers in India could reach 30 crore annually by 2030. The number of air travellers in 2023 was 15.3 crore. Speaking at the inaugural session of the civil aviation conclave and exhibition, Wings India 2024, Scindia said the number of airports and wardrobes in the country will increase to over 200 from the current 149.

With 30 crore passengers a year in 2030, India's aviation penetration will be 10 to 15 per cent and the market will remain promising even after that. He said the last decade saw a 15 per cent increase in domestic air passengers, while international air traffic grew by 6.1 per cent.

Over the last 15 years, domestic cargo saw a growth of 60 per cent, international was 53 per cent. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh and Telangana Minister K Venkat Reddy also spoke on the occasion. During the event, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also said that India has emerged as the largest global buyer of aircraft after the United States and China.

Speaking at Wings India 2024, Scindia talked about the orders for the planes placed by Indian companies to Boeing and Airbus. Scindia said that Indigo has placed orders for 500 aircraft, while Air India has also ordered 470 aircraft. He further said that the recently launched Akasa Air has also ordered more than 200 aircraft.