Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed global aviation leaders at the IATA AGM in New Delhi, highlighting India’s rise as a transformative force in the global aviation sector
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting and the plenary session of the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 3 June 2025. The summit marked the return of IATA’s AGM to India after a 42-year hiatus, drawing over 1,600 participants including global aviation industry leaders, government officials, and international media.
Welcoming the delegates, Prime Minister Modi noted the scale of transformation in India’s civil aviation sector over the past decade. He underscored India’s emergence as a key player in the global aviation ecosystem, stating, “Today, India is emerging as a global leader in space-aviation convergence.” He emphasised India’s role not only as a vast market but also as a source of innovation, talent, and inclusive development.
Highlighting the country’s growing infrastructure, Shri Modi shared that the number of operational airports in India has increased from 74 in 2014 to 162 today. He added that Indian airlines have placed orders for over 2,000 new aircraft, with passenger traffic projected to reach 500 million annually by 2030. The Prime Minister highlighted India’s remarkable transformation in civil aviation over the past years. He added, “India has become the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world”. Emphasizing the success of the UDAN scheme, which has made air travel accessible for over 15 million people.
Shri Modi discussed India’s efforts to drive sustainability in aviation, including investment in green technologies, a shift towards sustainable aviation fuels, and digital innovations like the Digi Yatra app. “Digi Yatra stands as a secure and smart solution, serving as a model of inspiration for the Global South,” he remarked. He also stressed India’s growing MRO capabilities and the ambition to create a $4 billion MRO hub by 2030.
The Prime Minister concluded by encouraging aviation leaders to adopt the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ ethos, while noting India’s inclusive aviation model. He said, “India’s direction and pace are on the right track,” calling for global collaboration to ensure that air travel becomes more accessible, secure, and sustainable. Union Ministers Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Shri Murlidhar Mohol, along with IATA leaders and industry dignitaries, were also present at the event.
Source: Prime Minister Office
