India’s Aviation Vision 2047 aims to nearly double the nation’s airports from 163 today to more than 350 by 2047, as part of a strategy that will expand domestic and global connectivity, generate millions of jobs, and position aviation as a key driver of the country’s economy. This ambitious growth is powered by initiatives like the UDAN scheme, which in nine years has dramatically improved regional connectivity with 3.23 lakh flights and 1.56 crore passengers linked to smaller airports and remote regions including the North-East, Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands. Investments in aviation are shown to generate a strong ripple effect, producing triple the economic value and six times the number of jobs for every rupee invested.
As passenger traffic is expected to surpass one billion annually by 2047 and the commercial fleet grows to over 2,300 aircraft, the sector is set to support 25 million jobs and reinforce India’s status as the third-largest domestic aviation market. The government is also leveraging bilateral air service agreements, technology transfer, and Make in India initiatives to deepen international connections and drive manufacturing, ground handling, and MRO services. These efforts have made air travel increasingly affordable and accessible, reshaping the travel landscape by directly connecting once-remote destinations and accelerating regional economic growth and tourism.