Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the International Air Transport Association’s 81st Annual General Meeting and the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) in New Delhi, highlighting India’s aviation leadership.
Key Highlights of the World Air Transport Summit (WATS)
- Return of IATA AGM to India: India hosted the IATA AGM after 42 years, underlining its rising stature in global aviation.
- India’s Role: PM Modi emphasized India as a key player in global space-aviation integration, driven by innovation and policy leadership.
- India’s Vision for Aviation
About IATA (International Air Transport Association)
- Introduction: IATA was established as a trade association for Airlines in 1945 in Havana, Cuba.
- Headquarters : Montreal, Canada
- Members: Represents around 320 airlines, covering 83% of global air traffic.
- Role: Works to promote safe, reliable, and efficient air transport.
- Objectives of IATA:
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- To promote the development and orderly growth of international air transportation worldwide.
- To ensure cooperation and coordination among international airlines for greater efficiency and service quality.
- To enhance safety standards across all areas of air transport operations.
- Formulating and enforcing international air traffic rules and regulations to facilitate secure and standardized global aviation practices.
- India’s Collaboration: India reaffirmed its commitment to IATA’s goals and global aviation standards during the WATS.
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- A $4 billion Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub by 2030.
- Promotion of “Make in India” and “Design in India” in aerospace.
- Encouragement for global investment across the aviation value chain.
Indian Aviation Sector’s Growth
- Success of UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik)
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- Over 15 million passengers, many first-time flyers, benefited from affordable air travel.
- Marked as a “golden chapter” in Indian aviation history.
- Inclusivity: UDAN has improved air connectivity in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, enabling economic integration and regional development.
India’s Domestic Aviation Market
- Growing Passenger and Cargo Volume: India is now the third-largest domestic aviation market, after the U.S. and China, according to data by aviation analytics firm Official Airline Guide (OAG).
- India currently has 240 million annual passengers projected to rise to 500 million by 2030.
- Air cargo is projected to grow from 3.5 to 10 million metric tons by 2030.
- Fleet Expansion: Indian airlines have placed orders for over 2,000 aircraft, indicating robust market confidence.
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- Rapid Expansion: Operational airports increased from 74 in 2014 to 162 in 2025. Passenger handling capacity is now at 500 million annually.
- Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model: Airports are being developed and re-developed using PPP Model encouraged through policy incentives, streamlined regulations, and simplified taxes.
- Maintenance and Leasing: MRO facilities increased from 96 to 154.
- New policies have allowed for full FDI ,Lower GST lowered, and rationalised tax for MRO services.
- Aircraft Leasing and Legal Framework
- Protection of Interest in Aircraft Objects Bill was passed to align the legal Framework with Cape Town Convention.
- Incentives at GIFT City attracting global lessors.
- Green Aviation Initiatives: Focus on sustainable aviation fuels and carbon footprint reduction.
- Development of green airport infrastructure and technology such as Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in Delhi which runs entirely on renewable energy sources, making it India’s first carbon-neutral airport.
- Digital Travel Innovation: India’s Digi Yatra is a paperless, facial-recognition-based app ensuring seamless, secure travel.
- It has been positioned as a model for the Global South.
- Leadership in Gender Inclusion: Women make up 15% of pilots (three times the global average), 86% of cabin crew and have a significant share of engineers in the MRO sector.
- Drone Technology for Social Empowerment: Drones are empowering women’s SHGs in agriculture, health, and logistics sectors.
- Global Commitments:
- Adoption of ICAO norms and principles of the Chicago Convention.
- The Delhi Declaration at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference reaffirmed India’s aviation leadership.
Additional Reading: Protection of Interest in Aircraft Objects Bill
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