NEW LEADERSHIP TO CHART THE COURSE

The new Civil Aviation Minister will need to rise to the challenges and fulfill the demands of India's thriving aviation sector

- SWAATI KETKAR

AMONGST THE ROAR OF JET ENGINES ECHOES ACROSS INDIA and passenger traffic on a record-breaking climb, India recently witnessed the return of Modi 3.0 governance with the reins of the booming Indian aviation sector switching to one of the youngest ministers in Modi cabinet – 36-year-old, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, India’s new Civil Aviation Minister. Experts believe he has a host of challenges as the new minister of civil aviation and will need to rise to the challenges of the industry.

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“India’s new Civil Aviation Minister enters the ministry at an opportune time,” says Prakash Babu Devara, Director of Product Marketing at Cognitus. “The industry outlook is quite positive,” he adds, “but there are significant challenges that need to be navigated to sustain growth.”

India has one of the largest aircraft orders globally—1,150 aircraft by 2035—but the country’s infrastructure must be robust enough to handle the increased aircraft and passenger demand. Developing a sound aviation ecosystem is one of the biggest challenges facing the new minister. Additionally, there’s a pressing demand from Middle Eastern carriers for more bilateral flying rights. “Considering this boom, we hope the new minister will address the ongoing demand from the UAE and Qatar for more bilateral flying rights,” says Jaideep Mirchandani, Chairman of SkyOne. “We seek a balanced approach that promotes fair competition and growth for all stakeholders.”

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