Indian Aviation May Handle 500 Million Passengers a Year by 2030, Says NMIA Chief

India’s aviation sector is on course for another major expansion phase, with annual passenger traffic expected to touch about 500 million by 2030 and rise to nearly 1 billion by 2047, according to Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd CEO B.V.J.K. Sharma. Speaking at Airport 360 Expo 2026, Sharma said the growth outlook is being supported by strong travel demand, fleet expansion and continued airport infrastructure development.

He said India is already among the world’s top three domestic aviation markets and continues to grow at a rapid pace. Passenger traffic reached around 412 million in 2025, reflecting strong momentum in domestic air travel, while the wider sector is being backed by more than 1,000 aircraft orders, signalling confidence in long-term demand.

Sharma noted that domestic air travel could initially grow at around 17% year-on-year, although long-term growth may gradually moderate from historical levels of 10–12% to about 5.6% by 2044. Even with that tapering, he said the overall trajectory remains strong enough for India to cross the 500-million-passenger mark before the end of the decade.

He also highlighted the pace of aviation infrastructure expansion across the country. India now has more than 160 operational airports, while the sector contributes roughly USD 54 billion to the economy and supports millions of jobs. Sharma added that related segments such as maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, are expected to play a larger role as the ecosystem matures.

For Navi Mumbai International Airport, capacity is being developed in phases to reach 90 million passengers by 2032. Sharma said the project is being built around strong connectivity, digital infrastructure and integrated planning, reflecting the broader shift toward scalable and future-ready airport ecosystems in India.

The remarks underline the scale of India’s aviation ambitions at a time when rising incomes, deeper regional connectivity and airport modernisation are reshaping the country’s travel market. With passenger demand continuing to surge, the next few years are likely to test how quickly infrastructure can keep pace with one of the fastest-growing aviation sectors in the world.