In Expansion Mode

There is a mega boom in the civil aviation sector with people flying in record numbers as the government lines up more capital for expansion and growth

- ASHISH SINHA

THE DOMESTIC aviation sector has seen it all. From the highs of 2019 when over 14.41 crore passengers flew within the country to a complete shutdown of airports and the aviation sector in mid-2020. Amidst Covid-related restrictions, the aviation sector struggled through 2020 and 2021. But not today. Already, the airports in Delhi and Mumbai (that handle the lion's share of domestic passengers) are overflowing. Advisories have been issued to the passengers to show up at least 3.5 hours before the scheduled departure time to avoid the chaos at the airport.

During the January-October 2022 period, domestic air carriers carried nearly 10 crore passengers, up from 6.2 crore during the year-ago period, an annual growth of 59 per cent, the civil aviation regulator said. By the time the passenger traffic figures for November and December 2022 come out, experts believe the domestic aviation sector would have matched the highs of 2019 or thereabout.

Set to Grow

Domestic passenger traffic grows 60 per cent in 10 months of 2022

Nearly 10 crore domestic passengers flew in Jan-Oct period

India is expected to have 40 crore air travellers by 2027: IATA 

Airports are unable to cope with passenger traffic in December

Government continues to pump in money for expansion