**Executive Summary**
This document is an English rendering of the Prime Minister's address via video conferencing at the Wings India 2026 programme in Hyderabad on January 28, 2026. The address outlines India's growth and future aspirations in the aviation sector, emphasizing investment opportunities and the goal of self-reliance. The speech mentions the target of achieving over 400 airports in India by 2047.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Aviation Sector Growth and Transformation**
* India is now the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.
* Indian airlines have placed orders for over 1500 airplanes.
* Air travel is becoming inclusive, with a focus on connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
* The number of airports in India has increased from 70 in 2014 to over 160.
* More than 100 air domes have been activated.
* The UDAN scheme has facilitated travel for 15 million passengers.
* **Future Goals and Vision**
* Aim to have over 400 airports in India by 2047.
* Emphasis on the development of the tourism sector and related air travel demand.
* Focus on aircraft design, manufacturing, and the MRO ecosystem to achieve self-reliance.
* Development of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and sustainable aviation fuel.
* India aims to become a major producer and exporter of green aviation fuel.
* **Investment and Infrastructure**
* Emphasis on warehousing, freight forwarding, express logistics, and e-commerce.
* Connecting different regions of the country and markets through various modes of transport.
* Focus on air cargo and regulatory reforms to make cargo movement fast and efficient.
* Modern warehouses are being built to improve cargo handling.
* **Strategic Importance**
* India is becoming a major aviation gateway between the Global South and the world.
* India's geographical position and domestic feeder network are considered key strengths.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Investors**
* **Impact**: Investors are presented with significant opportunities in India's aviation sector, including aircraft manufacturing, cargo, warehousing, and sustainable fuel development.
* **Action Required**: Investors are encouraged to explore opportunities in warehousing, freight forwarding, express logistics, and e-commerce sectors.
**Stakeholder: Aviation Industry Leaders & Representatives of International Organizations**
* **Impact**: Encouraged to invest in India.
* **Action Required**: Take advantage of opportunities as long-term partners in India's aviation sector.
**Stakeholder: Global Aviation Sector**
* **Impact**: India is moving towards being a major global aviation hub.
* **Action Required**: Acknowledge and adapt to India's growing role in the industry.
**Stakeholder: Citizens of India**
* **Impact**: Greater accessibility to air travel through expanded airport networks, the UDAN scheme, and increased connectivity.
* **Action Required**: Be aware of the growing options for affordable air travel.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN scheme: A scheme focused on affordable air travel for citizens and connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities with airports in India.
Wings India: Aviation industry event/summit.
India: The primary geographic and economic area to which the policy and initiatives apply.
Prime Minister's Office
English rendering of PM addressing Wings India
2026 programme in Hyderabad via video
conferencing
प्रव तथ: 28 JAN 2026 7:18PM by PIB Delhi
My colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Ram Mohan Naidu Ji, Murlidhar Mohol Ji, Honorable Ministers
from across the world, leaders of the global aviation industry, representatives of international
organizations, Distinguished Delegates, ladies and gentlemen!
Greetings!
On this platform of Wings India, I welcome all industry leaders, experts, and investors. As you all know,
the next era of the aviation industry is filled with many aspirations. And India is becoming a major player
in this. Aircraft Manufacturing, Pilot Training, Advanced Air Mobility, Aircraft Leasing - these are sectors
with which India stands before you with numerous possibilities. And therefore, this summit of Wings India
has become so significant for all of us.
Friends,
In the last decade, a historic transformation has taken place in India's entire aviation sector. There was a
time when India was among those countries where air travel was limited to an exclusive club. But today,
the situation has completely changed. Today, India is the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.
Our passenger traffic has increased very rapidly. The fleet of Indian airlines is also expanding fast. In
recent years, India's airlines have placed orders for more than 1500 airplanes.
Friends,
This momentum in India's aviation sector came because our government is working with a long-term
vision. Air travel in India is now becoming inclusive, not exclusive. It is our mission that the citizen of
India can travel by air easily. Therefore, we have connected Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities with airports. In the
year 2014, there were 70 airports in India. Today, the number of airports in India has increased to more
than 160. That is, in just one decade, more than double the airports have been built in India. We have
activated more than a hundred air domes in the country. And along with this, we have launched the UDAN
scheme with affordable fares for our citizens. Due to the UDAN scheme, 15 million passengers - that is,
about one and a half crore passengers - have traveled on those routes, many of which did not even exist
before.
Friends,
Today, when India is moving forward with the goal of becoming developed, it is certain that our air
activity will expand many times over. It is estimated that by 2047, there will be more than four hundred
airports in India; this will be a very large network. Not only this, our government is also working on thenext phase of the UDAN scheme. With this policy, regional and affordable air connectivity will be further
strengthened. Along with all this, seaplane operations are also being expanded. Our effort is simply that air
connectivity improves further in every corner of India.
Friends,
Today, the Government of India is also laying great emphasis on the development of the tourism sector
here. Tourist places are being developed across the country, and for going to these places, air travel is the
first choice for a large number of people. In the coming time, there is going to be an unprecedented
expansion in the demand for air travel. That is, more investment opportunities will be created for all of
you.
Friends,
Today, when India is becoming a major global aviation hub, it is also necessary that we do not remain
dependent on others for aviation-related needs. We must strengthen the path of self-reliance. This will also
be helpful for the companies coming to invest in India. With this thought, India is laying great emphasis
on aircraft design, aircraft manufacturing, and the aircraft MRO ecosystem. Even today, India is a major
manufacturer and supplier of aircraft parts. We are starting to make military and transport aircraft in the
country. India is also moving in the direction of civil aircraft manufacturing, and as all you investors
know, India has many advantages as well. India's geographic position in global air corridors, our
unmatched domestic feeder network, and the expansion of long-haul fleets in the future - this is our very
big strength.
Friends,
That day is not far when electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed and manufactured in India
will give a new direction to the entire aviation sector. This technology can greatly reduce our travel time.
Besides this, we are also doing great work on sustainable aviation fuel. In the next few years, India is
moving towards becoming a major producer and exporter of green aviation fuel.
Friends,
We are also making many reforms in the country's aviation sector. And because of every such effort, India
is becoming a major aviation gateway between the Global South and the world. This is a very big
opportunity for investors and manufacturers associated with the aviation sector.
Friends,
Today, India is connecting the different regions of the country as well as the markets there with each other.
Our cities are being connected to ports through different modes of transport. India's aviation vision is
equally focused on air cargo. To make cargo movement fast and efficient, the government is working on
all necessary regulatory reforms. Along with this, our digital cargo platforms are making the entire process
simple and transparent. Due to the arrangement of off-airport processing, the load on our airports is also
decreasing. We are also building such modern warehouses so that the work of cargo handling happens
even faster and better. In the coming future, this will reduce both the delivery time and logistics cost of
cargo. In the future, India will emerge as a large and competitive transshipment hub.
Friends,
I would say to all investors that you must explore opportunities in India's warehousing sector, in freight
forwarding, in express logistics, and in e-commerce - in all these sectors.
Friends,Today, there are only a few countries in the world where there is such a large scale, such policy stability,
and such technological ambition for the aviation industry. I would say to every country in the world, every
industry leader, every innovator, that they should take full advantage of this golden opportunity. Become a
long-term partner in this development journey of ours and work for the growth of the world's aviation
sector. I invite investors from across the world to come with us as co-pilots of India's flight. Once again,
my many best wishes to all of you for the successful organization of Wings India.
Thank you very much!
****
MJPS/VJ
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2219748) आगंतुक पटल : 202
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Gujarati