The total annual passenger handling capacity at Indian airports has risen to more than 580 million, the government announced on Monday.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the Rajya Sabha that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other operators upgrade and modernise airports regularly. These projects are planned based on traffic growth, airline demand, operational needs, financial viability and techno‑economic factors.
As a result, the country’s airports can now accommodate over 580 million passengers per annum. During the 2025‑26 financial year, about 420 million passengers were handled.
India currently has 166 airports across the country.
The ministry has given in‑principle approval to set up 25 greenfield airports. Out of these, 14 have already become operational.
In a separate reply, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said that 11 scheduled and commuter airlines are operating in India. He stressed that the government aims to create a conducive environment for both expanding existing carriers and welcoming new entrants.
The scheduled Indian airlines operate a fleet of 860 aircraft. They have placed orders for 2,056 aircraft, of which 427 have already been delivered. The remaining aircraft will be inducted as per the airlines’ expansion plans, market needs and commercial strategies.
The exact timeline for induction depends on aircraft availability, supply‑chain conditions and other operational considerations.