Inter Airport India
Passengers using India's airports forecast to rise to 400 million by 2020
In India unrelenting air traffic growth, stimulated by a strengthening economy, and increasing prosperity, is driving the pace of airport development. In the first nine months of 2007 alone, domestic passenger numbers rose by 37% compared to the same period in 2006. The number of airports in India handling scheduled domestic flights rose again in 2007 and now stands at 82.
Forecasts predict passenger numbers using India's airports rising from some 73 million in 2005-06 to 400 million by 2020.
To meet this surge in demand, the government's target is eventually for there to be 500 operational airports in India, requiring spending of USD 50 billion over a 10-year period. This would be part of a USD 150 billion 10-year projected investment programme in civil aviation overall.
This extra facilities will range from new "Greenfield Airports" to ex-military sites converted for civilian use an upgraded landing strips.
Work is already under way at several Greenfield sites and 19 additional locations for this type of facility have been identified by the government. Individual states in India are now also able to pursue their own airport development policies. And private sector investment is playing a vital role. Major developments to expand existing international airports at Delhi and Mumbai have been taken forward as PPP schemes and this funding route will remain a key feature of the expansion programme.
