India's airport network can now handle more than 580 million passengers annually, reflecting sustained investment in airport infrastructure and capacity expansion, according to the Centre. The update comes as the country's aviation sector continues to grow, with passenger traffic reaching around 420 million during 2025-26 and airlines pursuing large-scale fleet expansion.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said capacity enhancement and modernisation projects have been undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport operators in response to rising demand and operational requirements.
According to Mohol, airport development projects are planned based on several factors, including traffic growth, airline demand, operational needs, financial viability and techno-economic considerations.
He informed Parliament that these initiatives have increased the country's airport handling capacity to over 580 million passengers per annum (MPPA).
The latest figures also show a gap between installed capacity and current utilisation.
Key numbers highlighted by the government include:
The figures indicate additional capacity remains available as domestic and international passenger traffic continues to expand.
The government also updated Parliament on the progress of its greenfield airport initiative.
Mohol said the Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted in-principle approval for 25 greenfield airports, with 14 already operational.
The programme forms part of broader efforts to strengthen aviation infrastructure and improve regional and national connectivity as passenger volumes continue to increase.
In a separate written reply, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said India currently has 11 scheduled and scheduled commuter airlines in operation.
He said the government remains committed to creating an environment that supports the expansion of existing airlines while also enabling new operators to enter the market.
Naidu also outlined the scale of fleet expansion planned by Indian carriers.
According to the minister:
He added that delivery schedules will depend on aircraft availability, supply chain conditions and other operational factors.
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