Tag Archives: Indian aviation

Rajiv Bansal will guide Sarla on aviation regulatory strategy and policy alignment along with scaling operations in its next phase of growth Sarla Aviation announced the appointment of Rajiv Bansal, Former Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Managing Director, Air India to lead the company with regulatory advisory and strategy development towards certification. The move marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to redefine the future of mass transportation in India. This strategic appointment reinforces Sarla’s commitment to pioneering safe, purpose-driven and accessible urban air mobility solutions in the Indian aviation landscape. With an impressive career spanning over three decades in aviation policy and operations, Bansal brings unparalleled expertise to team at Sarla Aviation at a critical juncture as the company transitions from deep engineering to real-world deployment and flight testing. As a leading figure in the aviation ecosystem, having played a central role in shaping the nation’s civil aviation, his appointment signals strong institutional validation for Sarla’s vision to build India’s next-generation aircraft platforms. Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, excited, says, “It is an incredibly important step for Sarla to welcome Rajiv Bansal ji to our team, our ambition, and our company. His experience and leadership at the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be instrumental in helping us mature our processes, shape our certification strategy, and strengthen our approach as we build India’s first privately held full-stack aviation OEM. For all of us, it is a rare opportunity to learn, listen, and build alongside one of the greatest aviation visionaries of our country. We enter this next phase of growth with great confidence and renewed ambition—and we are excited to serve the nation together.” In this advisory …

With passenger traffic steadily increasing at Indian airports, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has significantly expanded aviation infrastructure and connectivity to meet the rising demand. Compared to the previous year, AAI has seen substantial growth, with a 6.7 per cent increase in aircraft movements and a 15 per cent jump in passenger numbers.

Believing that more competition will make air travel cheaper, KR Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister, GoI, said that the govt wants more airlines in India and doesn’t want a duopoly situation. We are facilitating new airlines to come in even if they are looking to start with one or two aircraft and are ready to provide support and aid to them to start their business, he said.

Uttar Pradesh’s upcoming airport Noida International Airport (DXN) will commence commercial flights to domestic and international destinations on 17 April 2025. Airlines have submitted applications for international destinations, with route approvals contingent on bilateral licensing agreements.

Noida International Airport is prepared to take off promising a significant boost to tourism in the region. The upcoming launch of the airport marks a major milestone for Indian aviation, enhancing connectivity and passenger comfort. Noida International Airport (NIA) continues to make significant strides towards its operational launch, with construction activities proceeding at a rapid pace. The airport, slated to commence commercial operations by the end of April 2025, is set to play an inflectional role in the growth of Indian aviation. Constructions Headway Passenger Terminal: The passenger terminal is taking shape, with work on facades and roof well underway. The installation of the baggage handling system is nearing completion, while MEP and finishing works are progressing steadily. Runway: The asphalt works on the runway have been successfully completed. Focus is now on runway markings, approach lights, and airfield ground lighting. Air Traffic Control: MEP works and finishing works are in progress at the ATC Tower. Navigational aids like DVOR have been calibrated, and preparations for Instrument Landing System (ILS) calibration are underway. Partnerships and Operations Take Flight Airlines Onboard: IndiGo and Akasa Air have signed MoUs with NIA, and discussions on network planning and operational requirements are ongoing. Strong interest from other domestic and international carriers is evident. Concessions Awarded: Key aero concessions, including into-plane fuelling services, ground handling, and cargo, have been awarded. Non-aero concessions for retail, dining, lounge, duty-free, and hotel have also been signed. Seamless Passenger Journey: Factory acceptance tests for key airport systems are complete, and equipment has started arriving on site. Check-in kiosks, self-service bag drops, and e-gates are being tested. Operational Readiness: Agreements for crucial operational and maintenance services, including airfield lighting, passenger …

According to RBI, “40 scheduled banks have cumulatively doubled their lending to the aviation sector in January at ₹45,076 crore, as against ₹23,407 crore three years ago. Investments from other sources stood at ₹27,824 crore in January 2023, up 62% year-on-year, and continued to rise gradually during FY24. Industry analysts attribute this surge in investments to the following factors, among others.”

Minister of State, MoCA, Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) said, “Before Covid-19 pandemic, India was one of the fastest growing aviation market in the world. During the six-year period i.e. 2014-15 to 2019-20, Indian airports witnessed robust double-digit Compound Annual Growth Rate of 12.4% in terms of total passenger traffic. Post-Covid, Indian aviation industry is again on the growth trajectory and the total passenger traffic has recovered to the tune of 96% during 2022-23, as compared to pre-covid.”

`In its latest analysis on the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry, CAPA India has said that the government and industry will need to collaborate to rethink and redesign aviation sector to emerge from the crisis and move towards a sustainable future. The report explains, “The current crisis should be used to initiate structural changes for the long-term viability of the sector. The industry will need to make some hard choices. Airlines will need to restructure their businesses to become leaner and reduce costs, whilst also increasing the strategic deployment of technology and analytics to enhance revenue and improve efficiency.”