Taking the number of international airports in India to 36, two new international airports are set to become operational in 2025. At present, the country has 103 domestic airports and the Union Government has granted an in-principle nod for establishing 21 Greenfield Airports across India. These include facilities at Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan, and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Dabra (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar as well as Dholera and Rajkot in Gujarat. Expanding air travel infrastructure to Tier-II and Tier-III cities will not only improve accessibility but also encourage new air carriers to enter the market, intensifying competition and making air travel more affordable.
“We observed that almost a decade ago, India’s economic activity was largely concentrated in a few metropolitan cities. These major cities were the primary contributors to the country’s GDP, with trade and economic activities predominantly centred there. However, this trend has shifted. Growing disposable income among the middle class, rapid adoption of technology, and widespread internet penetration have had a transformative effect on the lives of people in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. As the gap between these cities and metros continues to narrow, focusing on developing airport infrastructure in smaller cities, along with the ongoing emphasis on major urban centres, is the need of the hour,” says Jaideep Mirchandani, group chairman of Sky One.
As per the draft prepared by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the total number of airports in the country is set to nearly double to 300 by 2047, up from the current 140. This plan involves not only the construction of new airports but also the upgrade of 70 existing airstrips into fully operational airports. Among the greenfield airports planned, 12 have already been operationalized, including Durgapur, Shirdi, Sindhudurg, Pakyong, Kannur, Kalaburagi, Oravakal (Kurnool), Kushinagar, Itanagar, Mopa, Shivamogga and Rajkot.
“The benefits of new airports in Tier-II cities will significantly boost tourism and the economy. They will also help travellers explore their favourite destinations with less travel time, aligning with busy schedules. For example, consider the new Pakyong Airport in Sikkim, located just 31 km from Gangtok. Previously, travellers had to fly to Bagdogra in West Bengal and then continue by road. This new airport greatly enhances both tourism and trade in the region,” adds Mr Mirchandani and concludes, “Most importantly, the expansion of airports in Tier-II and Tier-III cities will reduce stress and congestion at major airports.