India plans to significantly expand its regional air connectivity, aiming for 350 to 400 airports in the next 20 to 25 years, according to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. Speaking at FICCI’s India Regional Air Mobility Conference 2024, Naidu announced plans to extend the UDAN scheme for another decade beyond 2027, making air travel more affordable for the common man.

The UDAN scheme, launched in 2016, has already connected 86 airports and operationalised over 583 routes, benefiting over 1.4 crore passengers. More than 2.80 lakh flights have been operated under the scheme with a viability gap funding of over 3,700 crores. Naidu emphasised the success of the initiative and its importance in enhancing regional air mobility across India.

Looking to the future, India is also focusing on developing and manufacturing its own regional aircraft, aiming for a stronger presence in the regional aviation market. Naidu also highlighted the potential for greater interconnectivity between Asia Pacific countries, proposing a hub and spoke model to optimise airport connections and resources across the region.

In addition to regional aircraft, the country is embracing new aviation technologies like Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, which could revolutionise urban air mobility in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Guidelines for eVTOL development were recently released by DGCA, positioning India as a leader in emerging aviation technologies.

Industry leaders, including Vumlunmang Vualnam and Alexis VIDAL, emphasised the critical role of regional air connectivity in India’s aviation growth, citing robust increases in passenger traffic and the creation of new city pairs. Remi Maillard of Airbus South Asia & India also noted the importance of UDAN in fostering new business models and overcoming infrastructure challenges.