India Targets Over 400 Airports by 2047 as Aviation Sector Enters a New Growth Era

India is preparing for a historic expansion of its aviation infrastructure, with plans to develop a nationwide network of more than 400 airports by 2047. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ambitious target while addressing the Wings India 2026 aviation summit, outlining a long-term vision to make air travel affordable, accessible, and deeply embedded in India’s development journey. The expansion is positioned as a key pillar of India’s roadmap to becoming a developed nation by the centenary of its independence.

Over the past decade, India’s aviation sector has already witnessed rapid transformation. The number of operational airports has increased from around 70 in 2014 to more than 160 today, reflecting a major policy push toward expanding infrastructure and improving regional connectivity. This growth has laid the foundation for a much larger nationwide network that aims to bring air travel closer to citizens across urban centers as well as smaller towns and remote regions.

PM Modi also stressed the need for self-reliance in aviation, highlighting the government’s push to reduce dependence on imports. (File Photo: ITG) | India Today

Regional Connectivity and the Role of the UDAN Scheme

A central driver of this transformation has been the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, which was introduced to make flying affordable and to connect underserved regions with the national aviation grid. The scheme has enabled hundreds of new regional routes, allowing millions of first-time flyers to access air travel. Smaller cities, hill states, and remote regions have particularly benefited from improved air connectivity, helping reduce travel time and boost local economic activity.

The government has indicated that future phases of UDAN will further strengthen links to difficult terrains and under-connected areas, including parts of the Northeast and coastal regions. This expanded regional network is expected to play a crucial role in supporting tourism, improving access to markets, and integrating local economies more closely with national and global trade corridors.

India’s Push to Become a Global Aviation Hub

India’s airport expansion is also aligned with its ambition to emerge as a major global aviation hub. The country is now among the world’s largest domestic aviation markets, supported by strong passenger growth and record aircraft orders by Indian airlines. With Indian carriers placing large long-term orders for new aircraft, the country is positioned to become one of the world’s biggest future aviation markets.

India’s geographic location along key global air routes provides a strategic advantage in connecting the Global South with major international destinations. Combined with a growing domestic feeder network, this positioning is expected to support increased international transit traffic, long-haul operations, and expanded air cargo activity over the coming decades.

Manufacturing, MRO, and Building a Self-Reliant Aviation Ecosystem

Beyond airports and passenger traffic, the government is focusing on building a self-reliant aviation ecosystem. India has already become an important supplier of aircraft components and has made progress in domestic production of military and transport aircraft. The push toward civil aircraft manufacturing reflects a broader effort to strengthen India’s capabilities across the full give-and-take of the aviation value chain.

At the same time, India is positioning itself as a growing hub for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services. Policy reforms and investment initiatives aim to attract global MRO business to India, reduce costs for domestic airlines, and retain high-value technical work within the country. This is expected to create skilled jobs and support the development of advanced aerospace capabilities.

Green Aviation and Future Technologies

Sustainability and advanced technologies form a key part of India’s long-term aviation strategy. The government has highlighted plans to scale up the production of sustainable aviation fuel, which would help reduce the carbon footprint of air travel while creating new opportunities in the green energy and biofuel sectors. This aligns with India’s broader climate commitments and clean energy transition goals.

In addition, India is exploring next-generation air mobility solutions, including electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. These technologies have the potential to reshape urban and regional transportation by reducing congestion, cutting travel time, and opening up new models of short-distance air travel. Such innovations are expected to play a growing role in India’s future transport ecosystem.

Private Investment and Airport Modernisation

The airport expansion drive is being supported by strong private sector participation. Major airport operators have announced large-scale investments in new terminals, greenfield airports, and capacity upgrades across metro and non-metro cities. These investments are aimed at improving passenger experience, increasing handling capacity, and modernizing airport infrastructure to meet international standards.

Private participation is also helping accelerate the pace of airport development and monetisation, enabling faster rollout of new facilities while reducing the financial burden on the government. This public-private collaboration is expected to be a key enabler of India’s long-term target of building a truly nationwide airport network.

The MGMM Outlook

India’s plan to develop more than 400 airports by 2047 reflects a structural shift in how aviation is being positioned within the country’s long-term development strategy. The rapid rise in operational airports over the past decade shows that air connectivity is no longer limited to metros but is becoming a tool for integrating smaller towns, remote regions, and emerging economic centers into the national growth story. Programs like UDAN have already demonstrated how affordable regional flying can unlock new demand, shorten travel times, and stimulate local economies, particularly in under-connected areas such as the Northeast and hill states.

At the same time, the expansion is closely tied to India’s ambition to become a global aviation and aerospace hub. Large aircraft orders, rising passenger traffic, and strategic geography are strengthening India’s role in international aviation networks, while parallel investments in MRO, manufacturing, and green aviation are building a more self-reliant ecosystem. The focus on sustainability, future mobility technologies, and private-sector-led airport modernisation indicates that this is not just an infrastructure push, but a broader effort to position aviation as a long-term driver of jobs, technology, trade, and global connectivity within India’s 2047 development vision.

(Sources: NDTV, India Today, DD News)