Business & Finance
India expands civil aviation sector into world's third largest market
France 24 reports that India's domestic aviation expansion has elevated the nation behind only China and the United States.
The short version
- India has grown into the third-largest aviation market globally over the past decade, trailing only the United States and China.[France 24]
- The country now sees more than 400 million air travelers each year following the construction of over 70 new airports.[France 24]
- Foreign aerospace firms have expanded their presence, with Airbus planes accounting for over 70% of the domestic commercial fleet.[France 24]
- Airlines and training centers will need to prepare around 35,000 new pilots by 2035 to keep up with industry demand.[France 24]
Key facts
- India has risen over the last decade to become the world's third-largest aviation market after China and the United States.[France 24]
- More than 70 airports were constructed across India during the past decade.[France 24]
- India registers over 400 million air passengers each year.[France 24]
- Aircraft manufactured by Airbus constitute over 70% of India's domestic fleet.[France 24]
- Meeting projected travel demand will require India to train approximately 35,000 pilots by 2035.[France 24]
What remains uncertain
- Whether India can scale up training capacity quickly enough to license the estimated 35,000 pilots needed by 2035 remains unconfirmed.[France 24]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.