India Economic Survey: Civil aviation industry is experiencing 'new era of expansion'

India's Economic Survey stated (26-Feb-2016) the civil aviation industry is experiencing a "new era of expansion". The Economic Survey said: "The civil aviation industry in India is experiencing a new era of expansion, driven by factors such as increasing private participation under PPP, development of greenfield airports, restructuring and modernisation of airports, FDI in domestic airlines, increase in number of low-cost carriers and emphasis on regional connectivity, coupled with cutting edge information technology interventions". The Survey points out that there has been strong growth in traffic at Indian airports during 2015-16 with domestic travel increasing by 20% and international traffic by 7.8% during the period from Apr-2015 to Nov-2015 while international cargo throughput increased by 5.8 % and domestic by 6.1% in the same period. The Economic Survey said airport infrastructure during 2015-16 was developed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) of Kadapah Airport, the New Civil Air Terminal at Chandigarh (Mohali side) and the New Integrated Terminal building at Tirupati Airport with apron and associated works. The Survey reported that the government has in-principle approved for setting up of a greenfield airport at Dholera in Gujarat and also site clearance have been given for setting up of greenfield airports at four locations, namely Bhiwadi (Alwar) in Rajasthan and Bhogapuram, Dagadarthi and Oravakallu in Andhra Pradesh. [more - original PR]