Civil Aviation Minister Reveals: India Adds 60 Flights Every Hour, Builds New Airport Every 40 Days
New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that with a new airport added every 40 days, the country has seen 88 new airports coming up in just 10 years and 60 additional flights added every hour. According to the Union Minister, flying in India today has become more accessible and affordable. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian skies are more connected, competitive and collaborative," Union Minister Naidu said. He reiterated the Ministry's commitment to collaborative, state-specific strategies to achieve inclusive aviation growth.
Speaking at the North Region Civil Aviation Ministers Conference 2025 organised by the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Union Minister said, “Through this strategic initiative, we aim to identify regional opportunities and realise the immense potential of tier 2 and 3 cities.” Addressing the inaugural function, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the civil aviation sector plays a vital role in promoting regional connectivity, tourism and socio-economic development in the state. He lauded the progress being made in the civil aviation sector and underlined the importance of ensuring safety of helicopter operations in the hilly terrain of the state, to which both the state government and the ministry are committed. Several presentations were made by the ministry on opportunities for states in the aviation sector. Following the presentations by the ministry on opportunities available for states, meetings were held between the delegations of state governments and officials of the ministry led by Union Civil Aviation Minister Naidu.
These meetings provided an opportunity to the States to put forth their requirements and suggestions directly to the Ministry. Also, the State Governments interacted directly with the key stakeholders of the aviation industry (Airlines, OEMs, FTOs, MROs, PSUs like AAI, PHL). The Plenary Session held at the end of the conference presented a holistic view incorporating the day's discussions and conclusions. Union Minister Naidu highlighted the strategic priorities of the Ministry for the Northern Region, which included development of heliport infrastructure, expansion of UDAN routes, strengthening of flying training institutes and MRO hubs, and enhanced Centre-State-Industry coordination.