Govt aims for 350-400 airports by 2047

The government aims to increase the count of operational airports in the country to 350-400 by 2047, encouraged by the number of operational airports in the country that has doubled from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024 due to the UDAN scheme. The government will extend the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN for 10 more years, said Civil Aviation Minister Mr K. Rammohan Naidu. UDAN has led to the birth and growth of regional airlines, generation of jobs and contribution to tourism, the Minister said at a function in the national capital to mark eight years of the scheme. As many as 601 routes and 71 airports have been operationalised under the regional air connectivity scheme. A total of 86 aerodromes — comprising 71 airports, 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes — have been operationalised, the Ministry said, as per a report.