India Emerged as the World’s Third-Largest Domestic Civil Aviation Market

DGCAI

India has emerged as the world's third-largest domestic civil aviation market after the United States and China, highlighting its rapid growth and potential for the future. This ranking is based on passenger traffic and capacity data for recent years.

Reflecting the rapid growth of the sector, India has demonstrated impressive annual average capacity growth of 6.9% over the last decade. Higher among the top five countries. Expansion of low-cost carriers, such as Indigo and Air India, which dominate the domestic market.

The number of operational airports in India has increased significantly, from 74 in 2014 to 162 as of September 2025, to support the rising demand. According to the Civil Aviation Secretary, Government of India, Samir Kumar Sinha, the country’s aircraft fleet has more than doubled from 395 in 2014 to 844 by 225.  He was addressing the seminar organized by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The Indian Government's initiative 'UDAN' aimed at enhancing global.