India’s Aviation Sector Has Nearly Achieved Pre-Covid Levels of Traffic

According to authorities, India’s civil aviation sector has nearly recovered to the pre-Covid level in terms of volume and will continue to rise. They were speaking at the kick-off event for Wings India 2022, a major event set to take place in Hyderabad from March 24 to 27.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation, launched the event, which will also include a global aviation conference. Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal stated that there is a significant opportunity for expansion in the civil aviation sector. “We will continue to develop quicker than we were previously”, he said.

According to Usha Padhee, joint secretary at the ministry, there is a sense of normalcy, and more than 85% of pre-Covid flight activity has returned. Scindia estimated that the country would have roughly 220 airports during the next five to seven years.

In the previous seven years, the number of airports has nearly quadrupled to 136, thanks to the addition of 62 new aerodromes. Previously, there were just 74 airports, he observed. He also emphasized that horizontal growth will result in vertical depth. According to the minister, overall freight handled by the country’s airports rebounded to more than 80% of pre-pandemic levels during the first two-quarters of FY-22(combined). During that time, it stood at 15.36 lakh MT.

Per an official announcement, Wings India 2022 would be Asia’s largest civil aviation (commercial, general, and business aviation) event.