India’s Aviation Ambition Soars: Over 400 Airports by 2047, Says PM Modi
Hyderabad, January 29, 2026 — In a bold projection for India’s aviation future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the country is on track to develop more than 400 airports by 2047, as part of a long-term strategy to make air travel affordable, accessible, and inclusive for all citizens. The address came during the opening session of Wings India 2026, Asia’s largest civil aviation summit, where Modi spoke virtually to delegates, investors, and industry leaders.
Highlighting India’s rapid transformation over the past decade, the Prime Minister noted that air travel has moved from being an elite privilege to a mass mode of transport and that India is now the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. He pointed out robust growth in passenger traffic and a booming aircraft order book, with Indian carriers placing orders for more than 1,500 new aircraft.
Central to this growth has been the government’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme, which has connected numerous Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, enabling around 15 million passengers to fly on routes that did not exist just a few years ago. Modi said the next phase of UDAN will further enhance connectivity, including the expansion of seaplane operations to reach remote and coastal areas.
Beyond passenger travel, the Prime Minister emphasized India’s push for self-reliance in aircraft manufacturing, sustainable aviation fuel, and future technologies like electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. He also invited global investors to participate in India’s rapidly expanding aviation ecosystem, positioning the country as a major global hub that connects the Global South with the rest of the world.
