GLOBAL AVIATION SUMMIT 2019 INDIA 3RD-LARGEST AVIATION MARKET OF THE FUTURE
India unveiled a Drone Ecosystem Policy Roadmap and a National Air Cargo Policy at the Global Aviation Summit in Mumbai on January 15 and 16 while articulating a Vision 2040 for the Civil Aviation Industry, showcasing itself as a 1.12-billion air passenger market by 2040
“INDIA IS THE FASTEST GROWING AVIATION SECTOR IN THE WORLD. I THANK PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN” —SURESH PRABHU, MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
THE CIVIL AVIATION ESTABLISHMENT led by Minister Suresh Prabhu and his deputy Jayant Sinha used the high profile congregation to provide a glimpse of India’s policy efforts and vision to shepherd one of the fastest growing sectors in the Indian economy. The Aviation Market in India is already worth ` 2 lakh crore, which pegs it at the same level as Telecom and Railways. Taking note of the exponential growth, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Ali, President of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said if the growth momentum of the Indian aviation market continues, then very soon it will the third largest aviation market in the world. He also focused on the need for better skill development of the next generation aviation professionals.
The theme of the Summit – Flying for All – showcased Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UDAN policy to make air travel afford
able and accessible for all sections of society. Prime Minister Modi’s dream of “Flying for the man wearing chappals is already becoming a reality here,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said, pointing out that air travel in India is cheaper than auto rickshaw rides in terms of per kilometre cost. It was making civil aviation accessible to the common man that was powering the exponential 20 per cent growth in the domestic civil aviation market annually for the last four years, he emphasised.
The Ministers and panellists together unveiled the Vision 2040 document which aims at 1.12 billion air passengers by 2040, up from 187 in 2018. Following the unveiling, Minister of State Sinha said Prime Minister Modi’s motto of “reform, perform, transform and then inform” is becoming a reality in the aviation sector, with 100 million air passengers being added in the last four years alone. Despite the exponential growth, the Minister emphasised that no compromise had been made on safety standards.
“WE ARE GOING TO START TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH DRONE 2.0 REGULATIONS. HOW DRONES CAN BE USED IN INDIA TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE” “OUR AVIATION ECOSYSTEM IS POISED TO GROW FROM AUTORICKSHAWS TO AIR RICKSHAWS. THAT’S HOW WE ENVISION FLYINGFORALL,” —JAYANT SINHA, MINISTER OF STATE FOR CIVIL AVIATION, INDIA
While inaugurating the Summit, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu highlighted the importance of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to the aviation environment of the future. He stressed the need to leverage modern technology to improve the global flying ecosystem.
Prabhu laid stress on safety and sustainable growth of the sector with “planet friendly” flying practices. “We have zero tolerance for safety violations,” he said, while also expressing India’s commitment to sound environmental practices and clean fuel. “It is our bounden duty to ensure that our skies remain blue for all times to come,” Prabhu asserted in his inaugural remarks.
Prabhu indicated that a robust policy framework was in the works. While the Government has already prepared a Drone and Air Cargo Policy, it will soon prepare a roadmap for aircraft manufacture in the country. A National Logistics Policy is also in the works, and this will lead to the creation of several logistic hubs across India.
In his message for the Summit, Prime Minister Modi also asserted that development of civil aviation infrastructure was a priority for his Government. “Our government is actively working on enhancing aviation infrastructure, improving connectivity and making flying more affordable,” Modi stated.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said aviation contributes 15 per cent to the national GDP, and that the requirements of an industrialised Maharashtra have generated a big demand for additional aviation infrastructure and more airports.
“The upcoming new Navi Mumbai International Airport, to be operational by 2022 will offer a unique experience. It has a capacity to add 1 per cent to the GDP. Nine more airports are in the pipeline in the state,” Fadnavis informed.
While Pune airport is being developed to cater to one of the major IT hubs in the country, Nagpur airport is being infrastructurally augmented to enable it to take advantage of its central location.
A passenger and cargo hub is being created at Nagpur, while Boeing has already started producing aircraft components there. More production unit by other companies are in the offing at Nagpur, he said.
Organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation along with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Global Aviation Summit provided a platform to discuss the way forward, riding the strong tailwind of growth with the objective of doubling global air traffic by 2030. Representatives and delegates from over 80 countries participated in the Summit.
The Summit was supported by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Federal Aviation Administration of the US, International Air Transport Association, Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, Airports Council International and Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines.