India to Lead Global Aviation Growth with 8.9% Annual Rise in Air Passengers
India is set to witness the fastest growth in air traffic globally over the next two decades. In recent years, the country has emerged as a major player in the global aircraft market. Due to rapid passenger traffic growth, Indian airlines are expected to place large aircraft orders. These insights were shared in the Airbus ‘Global Market Forecast 2025’, which projects aviation trends through 2044. The report estimates that India’s domestic air traffic will grow annually at a rate of 8.9%.
India: The World’s Third-Largest Aviation Market
India is the third-largest aviation market globally. According to government data, domestic passenger traffic has grown annually by 10–12% over the past decade. In 2024, domestic air passengers reached 228.1 million. On November 17, 2024, daily passenger numbers crossed 500,000 for the first time. International air traffic also hit 64.5 million passengers in the same year.
Given the rising air travel demand, Air India has ordered 570 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing over the past two years. Indigo has also placed an order for more than 900 Airbus planes.
Airport Infrastructure Doubled in a Decade
As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation, India had 159 airports by the end of 2024—double the number a decade ago. Since the launch of the UDAN scheme on October 21, 2016, airport development has accelerated. So far, 625 UDAN routes have become operational, connecting 90 airports.
In the last 10 years, 21 new airports have been approved, of which 12 are operational. Major international airports in Noida (Jewar) and Navi Mumbai are also expected to become functional soon. The government plans to develop 50 more airports over the next five years.
Global Aviation Trends: China, US, Europe
According to Airbus, despite short-term uncertainties, global air passenger traffic is projected to grow at 3.6% annually over the next two decades. Urban population is expected to grow by 1.2 billion, and the global middle class by 1.5 billion—these will be the major contributors to air travel demand.
India’s domestic air traffic will grow at 8.9% annually, the highest in the world. In comparison, China’s will grow at 5.4%, the US at 1.6%, Brazil at 4.6%, and Western Europe at 1.7%.
India to Middle East traffic is projected to grow at 5.8% annually, developing Asia to China at 8.5%, developing Asia to the Middle East at 5.3%, and Western Europe to the Middle East and Central Europe, as well as Middle East to the US, at 3.8% annually.
Global Aircraft Demand to Reach 43,420 Units
The Airbus forecast estimates a need for 43,420 new aircraft globally over the next 20 years to meet rising air passenger and cargo demand. This includes 34,250 single-aisle aircraft and 9,170 wide-body planes. About 44% of these (18,930 aircraft) will replace older models.
At the end of 2024, there were 24,730 aircraft in service globally. This number is expected to double, reaching over 49,000 by 2044. The aviation boom will create high demand for new pilots, technicians, cabin crew, and opportunities in aircraft maintenance and aviation services.