14 of 25 Greenfield Airports Now Operational as India Expands Aviation Footprint

The government announced on Monday that the nation's airports can now handle over 580 million passengers annually.The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport operators occasionally undertake capacity augmentation and modernization projects based on traffic growth, operational requirements, airline demand, financial viability, and techno-economic considerations, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the Rajya Sabha.In a written response, he stated, "As a result of these initiatives, the total passenger-handling capacity at airports across the country has been enhanced to over 580 million passengers per annum (MPPA), while passenger traffic handled during 2025-26 was about 420 million." As of this now, the nation has 166 airports.

According to Mohol, the ministry has granted "In-Principle" clearance for the construction of 25 greenfield airports, of which 14 have been operationalized. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu stated in a separate written response that there are currently 11 scheduled and scheduled commuter airlines operating in India and that the government is dedicated to creating an environment that encourages the growth of current airlines while making it easier for new ones to enter the market.There are 860 aircraft in service with the scheduled Indian airlines. Additionally, 427 of the 2,056 aircraft that airlines have ordered have already been delivered. According to their objectives for fleet expansion, market demands, business strategies, and commercial considerations, each airline plans the induction of the remaining aircraft.