India to raise airport capacity

The government of India has allocated US$613 million to the Airports Authority of India to expand facilities at some of the country’s airports. Raising capacity is essential, as many airports are handling more passengers than ever, and air travel is growing rapidly.

According to a TravelWeekly Asia report, ten of India’s airports are currently operating above capacity, with the top 30 to 40 airports reaching saturation in the next five to seven years. The growth in air travel in India has led to a surge in passenger numbers. India’s boom in air travel is led by a growing middle class, taking its toll on airports that struggle to cope with the masses.

India has had a six-fold increase in passenger numbers over the past decade, thanks to better flight connectivity and cheap fares. Experts say that India will need billions of dollars to boost the country’s airport capacity. The Centre for Aviation (CAPA) estimates that India will need to pour US$45 billion in its airports by 2030 to keep up with demand. To deal with traffic, some airports are upgraded, while new airports are under construction. A new airport is being built at Navi Mumbai, 30 kilometres away. The new airport is scheduled to open in 2023.

Further reading on travelweekly-asia.com