India Hosts 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation in New Delhi
India’s Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu elected Chairman of Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation
Asia-Pacific Region is poised to become the largest aviation market by 2035 with over 3.5 billion passengers annually, India’s Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said while inaugurating the 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation (APMC) in New Delhi yesterday. Naidu called for strategic investments in infrastructure and collaboration among regional stakeholders to ensure sustainable and balanced growth across the sector.
The event witnessed the participation of Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, Murlidhar Mohol, President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Salvatore Sciacchitano, and Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Vumlunmang Vualnam, along with Directors General and distinguished delegates from 29 countries from the Asia-Pacific region.
“India’s airport infrastructure has expanded from 74 operational airports in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with plans to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047,” Naidu said adding that the domestic air passengers have more than doubled in the past decade, with Indian airlines significantly expanding their fleets.
Naidu shared India’s successful Regional Connectivity Model through the UDAN scheme, which has opened up 583 new regional routes and made air travel accessible to underserved and unserved regions. He reiterated India’s commitment to making flying affordable for all citizens, with a vision of integrating helicopters, seaplanes, and widebody aircraft under the UDAN scheme.
Emphasizing on the three pillars of aviation—Infrastructure, Integration, and Innovation, Shri Rammohan Naidu underscored “How India has been leading the way in incorporating modern technologies like Digi Yatra, a biometric-based digital tool for seamless travel. He also highlighted India’s recent regulatory advancements in Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, paving the way for sustainable and innovative urban air mobility.”
Recognizing the global need for sustainable aviation, Naidu called for increased adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and energy-efficient airport infrastructure. He highlighted India’s goal to blend SAF with jet fuel for international flights and shared the success of carbon-neutral airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Cochin.
The Minister emphasized India’s leadership in promoting gender equality in aviation, with women constituting 15% of the country’s pilots, three times the global average. India’s target is to increase women’s participation in the aviation workforce to 25% by 2025.Shri Naidu concluded by calling for a collaborative effort among Asia-Pacific members to build a skilled aviation workforce, integrate advanced air mobility technologies, and ensure the sector’s sustainability. He expressed optimism for the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which will serve as a roadmap for elevating aviation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Vualnam stated that we are honoured to gather here today with senior policymakers, aviation professionals, and delegates from Asia Pacific countries to discuss the future of civil aviation. He said “As we celebrate 80 years of ICAO, it is a moment to reflect on how far we have come and how robust our journey has been, despite the challenges faced in the past. Civil aviation in the Asia Pacific region holds great potential for growth, and this conference offers a platform to address key issues and opportunities collaboratively”.
Addressing the Gathering, President, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Salvatore Sciacchitano expressed his gratefulness to the Government of India for hosting this important conference in collaboration with ICAO’s Asia Pacific Regional Office.
According to him as we mark the 80th anniversary of the Chicago Convention, this gathering is crucial for addressing new challenges in global aviation, especially in the Asia Pacific region, which accounts for 32% of global traffic and holds immense growth potential. He also mentioned that the region has shown remarkable resilience, surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels by early 2024, significant challenges remain. He called for collaboration to close this gap and ensure the aviation sector’s sustainable growth.
