Daily passenger traffic jumps from 2.39 lakh to 5.46 lakh in the last decade: DGCA

Domestic passenger traffic increases 136%, while international passenger traffic grows from 42,000 to 92,000 daily. This leads to domestic flight operations expand from 1,600 to over 3,000, while international flights stand at around 600 daily.

The 2nd ICC Aviation & Tourism Summit 2026 concluded on March 26, 2026, at Le Meridien, New Delhi, was attended by key dignitaries including Ashish Sood, Minister of Home, Power and Education, Government of NCT of Delhi; Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA); Subhash Goyal, Chairman, ICC National Expert Committee on Aviation & Tourism; and Chander Mansharamani, Co-Chairman, ICC National Expert Committee on Aviation & Tourism, among others.

Addressing the keynote, DGCA Kidwai acknowledged the aviation market of India, as it is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. He said, “Over the last decade, daily passenger traffic has increased from about 2.39 lakhs to 5.46 lakhs.” 

During the same period, daily flights grown from around 2,000 to over 3,700, representing a surge of over 120% in passenger traffic and around 80% in flights operation. This data highlights the scale and pace of growth, supported by significant expansion in infrastructure.

The number of licensed airports in public category has increased to 116 and in public category has increased to around 109. almost doubled in the last 10 years. This has contributed to improved regional connectivity and broader access to air travel.

Domestic passenger traffic has increased 136%, from approximately 1.92 lakhs to 4.53 lakhs per day, while international passenger traffic grown from 42,000 to 92,000 daily. Correspondingly, domestic flight operations have expanded from 1,600 to more than 3,000, while international flights stand at around 600 daily.

Kidwai noted, “We are connecting 62 countries, 107 destinations and about 66.8 million international passengers travel from April to January 26.” India’s aircraft fleet has also doubled over the decade, increasing from about 409 to 841. In addition, orders for nearly 1,600 aircraft are expected to be inducted by 2031, indicating continued capacity expansion. 

The general aviation operators have increased from 112 to 150, alongside a private fleet operation, reflecting diversification within the sector and increasing participation beyond scheduled operations.

Growth in the sector has been accompanied by the increased in skilled human resources. The number of licensed pilots in India has increased 50%, from 30,700 to over 45,000, while aircraft maintenance engineers have increased from 13,000 to 16,000. More than 3,500 air traffic controllers have also been licensed, reflecting building technical capacity. 

While India’s aviation growth rate is among the highest among the major aviation countries. However, in absolute terms, India's aviation sector is still smaller when compared to major markets like US, China, UK and Australia.

Kidwai announced that the government has recently approved a modified UDAN scheme, applicable from 2026-2027 to 2035-2036, with an outlay of more than 28,000 crores. It will develop 100 airports from the existing unserved airstrips, which has a total outlay of about 12,000 crores. Then plan includes operational support for 440 aerodromes for three years at about 2,500 crores, and development of about 200 modern helipads over the next eight years at about 3,600 crores. In addition, a VGF support will be propvided to airline operations for about 10 years at a cost of about 10,000 crores.

On regional connectivity, Kidwai highlighted the role of the schemes like UDAN in expanding access to underserved regions. Airports like Guwahati, Varanasi, Udaipur and Bhagdogra have recorded strong growth due to new domestic and international routes.

“As the national aviation regulator, we are committed to ensuring that these operations are conducted with the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and reliability. Recognising the unique challenges of mountain flying and seasonal surge in pilgrimage traffic, we have issued comprehensive operational guidelines, mandated specialised pilot trainings, and spend-end surveillance and audit works,” remarked Kidwai.

He added that India’s aviation sector is transitioning from an emerging aviation market to a major global aviation player. The increase in flights at tourism-centric airports in India reflects the rapid growth of both domestic and international travel demand, supported by government initiatives and rising tourist activities.