India on Tuesday downplayed foreign airline hopes for greater access to its airports, with its aviation minister urging domestic carriers to help them fly long distances and set up new hubs as it faces competition from foreign rivals to reach Indian destinations. Wants to gain control over the journey.
Jyotiraditya Scindia told Reuters it is also asking aerospace companies to increase local production and will soon finalize rules to protect lessors’ rights over acquisition of jets, in an effort to bring them level with major global aviation markets. Will give shape
“India is now at that inflection point,” Scindia said during an interview at his office in New Delhi.
“We are going to see an explosion in air traffic in India in the coming years,” he said, adding that he wants domestic carriers to focus more on international expansion.
The South Asian nation is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world with demand for air travel outstripping the supply of planes, but the bulk of international traffic is captured by global carriers with efficient hubs.