Bridging the Infrastructure Gap: Aligning Airport Capacity with India’s Passenger Growth
By Dr Vandana Singh
Chairperson, Aviation Cargo Federation of Aviation Industry in India
India’s aviation sector stands at a defining inflexion point. Passenger traffic continues to scale new highs, positioning the country among the fastest-growing aviation markets globally. While this growth reflects strong economic momentum and rising mobility aspirations, it has also brought into sharp focus a pressing challenge. Airport infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with accelerating passenger demand.
Domestic and international passenger traffic in India has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. This surge is being driven by an expanding middle class, greater affordability of air travel, revival of tourism, and focused government initiatives such as UDAN. However, the rapid rise in passenger volumes is exerting immense pressure on existing airport infrastructure, particularly at metro and tier one cities that serve as primary aviation hubs.
Congestion at major airports has become a persistent concern. Peak hour bottlenecks, limited runway availability, terminal crowding, and airspace saturation are impacting operational efficiency and passenger experience alike. Infrastructure expansion can no longer be approached through terminal additions alone. India requires a comprehensive capacity planning framework that integrates physical infrastructure, airspace management, and digital enablement.
Accelerating the development of greenfield airports must be prioritised alongside the modernisation of brownfield facilities. Airports such as Delhi and Mumbai have demonstrated the benefits of phased expansion, parallel runway operations, and technology-led process optimisation. These best practices need to be extended to emerging aviation centres, including Noida, Navi Mumbai, Jewar, Bhogapuram, and other high-growth regional markets.
Equally critical is aligning airport expansion with air traffic management capabilities. Rising passenger movements demand investments in modern navigation systems, data-driven traffic flow management, and stronger coordination between airports and air navigation service providers. Without airspace modernisation, physical infrastructure alone will be insufficient to address congestion challenges.
Sustainability must also remain central to future airport development. Capacity expansion should be supported by energy-efficient terminals, responsible construction practices, water conservation, and readiness for sustainable aviation fuels. As India advances its climate commitments, airports must evolve as environmentally accountable infrastructure assets.
Another important dimension is the integration of passenger and cargo operations. Airports play a strategic role in global trade and logistics, and passenger growth often intersects with cargo capacity constraints. Developing dedicated cargo zones, multimodal connectivity, and smart logistics infrastructure will enhance overall airport efficiency and economic contribution.
Policy continuity, timely approvals, and sustained private sector participation will be decisive in bridging the infrastructure gap. Aligning airport capacity with passenger growth is not merely an operational necessity. It is fundamental to supporting India’s long-term economic growth, regional connectivity goals, and global aviation ambitions.
