With more travellers, planes, airports, 'bullishness' greets slightly clouded-aviation skies

A “bullishness” greets the skies as more passengers are set to step into airports and more aircraft, including A350s, are ready to carry them in expanding routes in 2024

A "bullishness" greets the skies as more passengers are set to step into airports and more aircraft, including A350s, are ready to carry them in expanding routes in 2024 even as the fate of two bankrupt airlines remain uncertain.

A slew of airports and terminal building inaugurations and revised norms to address pilot fatigue issue will also happen in the new year.

“As far as goals for 2024 are concerned, it is to enable many more airports to be put in place, the fleet size to grow... we are getting roughly 2-5 planes a month between Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air.”

"We are going to rapidly expand our connectivity and it is also our intent to try and establish the first international air hub in India," Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told PTI in an interview.

Air India and IndiGo placing orders for 970 planes, Go First filing for voluntary insolvency proceedings, an amended insolvency framework to address aircraft lessors' concerns, and air passenger traffic touching a record high of more than 4.63 lakh in a single day in November, were among the key developments in 2023.

Mr. Scindia emphasised there is a "bullishness with regard to civil aviation" and the outlook is positive.

"As far as airlines are concerned, we need to concentrate on a great travel experience, increased OTP (On Time Performance) and make sure we have as many aircraft in the air," the minister said.