India Opens New Airport Every 50 Days, Says Aviation Minister
India’s aviation sector is expanding at an unprecedented pace, with a new airport opening every 50 days, according to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. The minister made this announcement during his address at the 30th CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam.
Key Takeaways
- India opening new airport every 50 days
- Andhra Pradesh to double airports from 7 to 14
- Major aviation infrastructure projects underway
- Drone sector and aerospace manufacturing expanding nationwide
Unprecedented Airport Expansion
Minister Kinjarapu highlighted the remarkable scale of India’s airport infrastructure development. “Every 50 days, we are opening a new airport, which is unprecedented anywhere in the globe,” he stated, emphasizing the success in building airports and enhancing passenger capacity across multiple aviation verticals.
Andhra Pradesh’s Aviation Transformation
Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a major beneficiary of this aviation boom. The state currently operates seven airports and plans to add seven more, significantly boosting regional air connectivity. The minister noted the state is creating both logistics and aviation hubs as part of its comprehensive development strategy.
Comprehensive Aviation Ecosystem
The state is building a complete aviation ecosystem with four flight training organizations, an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) ecosystem in Visakhapatnam, and an aviation skilling university. This integrated approach aims to create a full-fledged aviation infrastructure supporting training, maintenance, and manufacturing.
National Expansion Plans
The government is aggressively expanding the drone sector with plans for a “drone city” while pushing aerospace and aircraft manufacturing across the country. Minister Kinjarapu described 2047 not as a challenge but as “an unlimited amount of opportunities” for India’s aviation sector.
Government Collaboration
The minister attributed this rapid progress to the “double-engined Sarkar” model, where state and central governments work together with “unity, clarity, and conviction.” This collaborative approach has enabled Andhra Pradesh to capitalize on emerging aviation opportunities effectively.
The CII Partnership Summit, hosting over 3,000 delegates from 50+ countries, is expected to play a pivotal role in accelerating Andhra Pradesh’s development through such strategic partnerships.
