IANS/Hyderabad

India plans to build 200 low-cost airports in the next 20 years to connect tier-II and tier-III cities, a civil aviation ministry official said yesterday.
This will be one of the focus areas of India Aviation 2014, the country’s largest civil aviation exhibition and conference beginning here tomorrow.
The event with the theme “Enhancing air connectivity” will have special session on ‘looking beyond metros’.
G Ashok Kumar, joint secretary, civil aviation, told reporters here yesterday that low-cost, small and no-frill airports would be built in tier-II and tier-III cities, which are expected to spur the development of the aviation sector in the second phase.
“As the operating and service costs at the major airports are phenomenally high, there are plans to build small no-frill airports. They will have the basic infrastructure and will be like upgraded high-class railway stations,” he said.
The non-metro airports in India presently account for only about 30% of the total air traffic, but is expected to rise to 45% in the next few years.
The government also plans to construct 15 additional airports in the country under the Greenfield Airport Policy, by identifying the most suitable low-cost viable model, Kumar said.
The Airports Authority of India plans to invest Rs15bn in the development of non-metro airports during the 12th Plan.
India is planning to invest over $120bn in the development of airport infrastructure; improvement in connecting infrastructure; development of world class air navigation services infrastructure and other related activities to improve the air connectivity.
India, one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, currently ranks ninth but is expected to become the third largest after the US and China by 2020.
Indian airport system is poised to handle 336mn domestic and 85mn international passengers by 2020, from the current level of 121mn domestic and 41mn international passengers.
According to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Airline Industry Forecast 2012-2016, India’s domestic air travel market would be among the top five globally, experiencing the second highest growth rate at CAGR of 13.1%.
“About 400 aircraft are currently operational in the country and by 2020 the number is expected to reach 1000 aircrafts,” Kumar said.
According to him, there is a huge opportunity for MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) sector.
“Civil aviation is a highly regulated sector. This is a good opportunity and we are focusing for India to emerge as a MRO hub,” he added.
Meanwhile, the stage is set for the aviation exhibition.
More than 250 aviation companies from 18 countries will exhibit their products and services at the five-day event.
As many as 18 aircraft including the world’s largest passenger airliner Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be on static display at the fourth edition of the event, to be held at Begumpet airport or the old airport located in the heart of Hyderabad.
While Emirates will showcase their in-service A380, Air India will bring the Dreamliner.
The exhibitors include manufacturers of commercial and cargo aircraft, business jets, helicopters, airlines, airline services, air cargo, aircraft interiors, aircraft machinery and aviation skill development institutions.
The US will be partner country at the biennial event, which will be inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh. There will be bilateral meetings between India and the participants from US, Singapore, Russia and other countries.
Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Beechcraft Corporation, Dassault, Gulfstream, Embraer, Rolls Royce, Russian Helicopters and Piaggio among leading business and commercial aircraft manufacturers will participate in the show.
Being organised by the ministry of civil aviation and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the first three days of the event will be open for business visitors while it will be thrown open to the public on the last two days.