Airports
Infrastructure
With the extended runway becoming operational, VIjayawada International Airport is the largest airport in the State with a runway capable of handling Code-E type aircraft
The Way Ahead To cater to the rising air traffic in India, the Government and Airports Authority of India has been working towards increasing the number of airports
Photographs: AAI_Official / Twitter
By Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Bhatnagar (Retd) The resumption of regular international flights from March 27 is being greeted with cheer by all the stakeholders. Aviation industry is one of the major contributors to the nation’s economy. As per an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) study, the output multiplier and employment multiplier are 3.25 and 6.10 respectively. Prior to the pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast that India is expected to become the world’s third largest aviation market by 2024. However, COVID19 has been a big dampener on the Indian and global avia-
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tion industry. Domestic and international passenger traffic has reduced considerably over the last two years. To cater to the rising air traffic, the Government has been working towards increasing the number of airports. Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) in its December 2021 report has estimated increase in the number of airports to 190-200 by 2040. IBEF estimates that the requirement of passenger aircraft is likely to increase from present 680 to 1,100 by 2027 and further to 2,380 by 2038. The ongoing Russian-Ukraine crisis that has dampened the
ISSUE 3 • 2022
27
