India’s rapid airport growth explained

International Airport Review
Gabriel Higgins
05 Jun 2026

As India accelerates towards 300 airports by 2040, Chairman Vipin Kumar of Airports Authority of India, talks exclusively to International Airport Review about combining infrastructure expansion, sustainability, and advanced technology in reshaping national connectivity and making aviation accessible to millions.

As the world’s most populous country, India’s aviation growth is beginning to reflect its size. Over the last decade, aviation has become recognised as a necessity rather than a luxury, as the Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI), Vipin Kumar, asserts. In 2014, India had around 74 operational airports. Today, that number has grown to more than 155, with over a billion USD of investment.

Over the next four years, AAI is looking to develop approximately 50 more airports. In the long-term, their ultimate vision is to expand to 300 airports by 2040. This will be possible under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme...

India’s rapid airport growth explained | International Airport Review | 05 Jun 2026