Jyotiraditya Scindia, Civil Aviation Minister, said that India is set to have 200-220 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes in the next two to three years. The minister highlighted that until 2014, only 74 airports were operational in the country.

In order to achieve zero carbon emission on the campus of Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj airport, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has launched electric vehicles. The campaign has begun with the launching of two EVs on the campus. Airports are significant sources of carbon emissions due to their large energy demands.

State-owned airport operator Airport Authority of India intends to offer airport management services in order to ring fence its future profits. Since the government intends to lease the top 25 AAI-owned airports to private businesses, diversification has become imperative.

The Uttar Pradesh government announced that the state will soon have over 20 operationalised airports including five international airports. Presently nine airports are functional in the state and air service is available for 80 destinations

Under the UDAN scheme, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has identified 18 airports in Uttar Pradesh, 6 airports each in Rajasthan and Odisha. The government has also developed and operationalised nine heliports in the NSOP category under the UDAN scheme in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

The India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL) has approved a loan of Rs 6,630 crore for the development of six major airports. In addition, IIFCL has given preliminary approval of Rs 638 crore for the development of a greenfield airport in Andhra Pradesh.

The government of India has accorded an 'In-principle approval' for the setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country. Ten such airports have been operationalised so far in the country, the latest being the Manohar International Airport in Goa, which was inaugurated on December 11 last year.

Airports Authority of India and other private airport developers have targeted a capital outlay of approximately Rs 98,000 crore in the airport sector over the next five years for expansion and modification of existing terminals, new terminals, and runway strengthening.

The government will increase the number of airports, water aerodromes and heliports to 200 in the next five years from 145 currently to boost air connectivity, and asked eight states to lower exorbitant VAT on air turbine fuel.