Collaborative transformation key to building airports of the future, say industry leaders at Wings India 2026

Industry leaders at Wings India 2026 emphasize collaborative transformation as essential for developing future-ready airports in India.

As India emerges as one of the world’s largest aviation markets, industry leaders at Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad on Wednesday (January 28) underlined that the next phase of growth will depend not merely on expanding capacity, but on collaborative transformation across policy, technology, sustainability and infrastructure.

Speaking at a session titled ‘Collaborative Transformation: Developing and Operating Airports of the Future’, stakeholders from government, global aviation bodies, private airport operators and State administrations discussed the scale of India’s ambitions and the structural reforms needed to achieve them.

Aircraft on static display at Wings India 2026 at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR

“India’s aviation growth has outpaced global trends. Over the past 10 years, India’s passenger compound annual growth rate has stood at 18.3%, compared to a global average of 3.5%. Passenger throughput is projected to reach 620 million by 2030. From 74 airports in 2014, the country now has 164, and the long-term vision for 2047 envisages more than 350 airports to cater to over one billion airborne passengers, driven by regional demand and middle-class expansion,” said Vipin Kumar, Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

He further added that infrastructure upgrades are under way, including 160 new parking bays and runway and taxiway enhancements at airports such as Chennai, Kolkata, Bhopal and Patna. Under the UDAN scheme, 663 routes across 95 aerodromes have been operationalised in the past 6 to 7 years.

AAI plans to upgrade all air traffic control automation systems and navigation towers to global standards by 2028, with an investment roadmap of around ₹15 crore. By 2047, India is expected to require 1 million aviation professionals, necessitating expansion of flying training organisations, maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities and modern training infrastructure for air traffic control officers at Prayagraj, Gondia and Hyderabad, he said.