According to industry experts, the demand for air travel in India is likely to remain strong in the near future due to factors like rising disposable income in tier-II and tier-III cities. This demand has also underscored the need for new airports and multimodal transport connectivity. Taking this into consideration, the Centre has already launched a study on 300 potential airstrips across the country. These can then be developed as brownfield airports to expand air connectivity to diverse destinations.
Unlike greenfield airports, which are developed from scratch on empty land and commissioned later, brownfield airports will have existing infrastructure for airport development, such as runways and terminal buildings. However, only clear policy guidelines will help decide whether a greenfield or brownfield airport should be developed in a particular area.
The policy can be based on various parameters, like the volume of traffic that existing nearby terminals are witnessing, the available infrastructure facilities in these brownfield strips and the region’s potential for trade, tourism and attracting foreign investment.
Meanwhile, the government is also actively increasing connectivity by adding new airports and new domestic routes under its Regional Connectivity Scheme - RCS UDAN. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, as of June 2024, India has 157 operational airports, and as part of UDAN, 60 new routes were commenced in 2023. Further, six new airports- Rourkela, Hollongi, Jamshedpur, Cooch Behar, Utkela, and Shivamogga were also operationalized last year.
The development of regional aviation hubs in strategic locations will help distribute air travel more evenly. The modernization of existing airports will also result in enhanced capacity and the integration of new technologies will increase the efficiency of these facilities. These regional airports can connect smaller cities to major airports and then to international destinations. It will also help reduce the stress on major airports considerably.
Most of the tier-II cities are witnessing significant growth in business activities, especially with the rise of many new startups. This has increased the need for efficient travel options for business travelers. The modernization of regional airports will help airlines offer direct flight options to business travelers who frequently travel to major business destinations.
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