India is set to have 34 mega airports by 2047, according to Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Vipin Kumar. Speaking at the Aviation India 2025 event on Wednesday, Kumar said the country’s total number of operational airports has risen to 164 as of October, up from just 74 in 2024.
Delhi International Airport is currently among the world’s mega airports, with the capacity to handle 100 million passengers a year.
Kumar highlighted the need for a major infrastructure expansion to support the sector’s rapid growth. This includes ramping up manpower, enhancing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and preparing to handle around 1,600 aircraft across the 34 planned mega airports.
Under the government’s Viksit Bharat @ 2047 mission, the goal is to increase India’s total number of airports to 350–400, including redeveloped airstrips. Kumar said 110 airstrips have already been identified as suitable for development, while another 200 are under assessment.
He also mentioned plans for “twin airports” , second airports in major regions, with proposals for new greenfield facilities in the Delhi National Capital Region and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Among the sites identified for upcoming greenfield airports are Purandar (Pune), Kota (Rajasthan), Parandur (Chennai), Great Nicobar (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Puri (Odisha), Dholera (Gujarat), and Doloo (Assam).
