In a major push for aviation infrastructure and urban expansion, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced on February 13, 2026, that India aims to build 50 new airports over the next five years. Speaking at the National Urban and Real Estate Development Conclave (NAREDCO) in New Delhi, the minister described airports as the “scaffolding” that will support India’s journey toward a $1 trillion real estate sector by 2030.
This expansion is part of the broader “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision, which targets a network of 350–400 airports by the centenary of India’s independence.
Current State vs. Future Goals
India is currently the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. The pace of development has accelerated significantly, with a new airport or terminal being completed roughly every 33 days.
| Metric | Status (Feb 2026) | 5-Year Target (2031) | 2047 Vision |
| Operational Airports | 165 | 215+ | 350–400 |
| Annual Passenger Traffic | ~175 Million (2024) | ~665 Million (Projected) | — |
| Real Estate Sector Value | ~$500 Billion | $1 Trillion (by 2030) | $5–7 Trillion |
Major Upcoming Airports (2025–2028)
While the 50-airport plan focuses heavily on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme, several massive greenfield projects are nearing completion:
- Noida International Airport (Jewar): Set to become India’s largest airport with six runways. Operational trials are expected to transition to commercial flights by February 2026.
- Navi Mumbai International Airport (D.B. Patil): Scheduled to begin operations on December 25, 2025, or early 2026, easing the load on Mumbai’s main hub.
- Purandar Airport (Pune): A ₹6,000 crore project expected to be operational by 2027–28.
- Bhogapuram Airport (Andhra Pradesh): A strategic international hub for the North Andhra region, nearing completion in 2026.
- Minicoy Island (Lakshadweep): A dual-purpose military and civilian airport to boost luxury tourism.
Economic & Real Estate “Multiplier Effect”
Minister Naidu highlighted that airport-led development is creating “Aerocities”—integrated urban centers comprising business parks, hotels, and residential zones.
- Height Restriction Review: The Ministry is conducting a study to relax building height restrictions near airports. This move aims to encourage sustainable vertical growth in land-constrained cities.
- Property Appreciation: Corridors near upcoming airports (like Jewar and Navi Mumbai) are already seeing property value appreciation of 70% to 120%, outperforming city-wide averages.
- Rental Housing Focus: The government is shifting policy toward rental housing projects to cater to the young urban workforce and migrants moving to these new aviation hubs.
Challenges: The Execution Gap
Despite the ambitious targets, the India Aviation Infrastructure Summit 2026 (set for March 31) will address critical bottlenecks, including:
- Land Acquisition: Delays in projects like Purandar and Dhalbhumgarh due to environmental and land hurdles.
- Financing: Proposals to grant “Infrastructure Status” to aircraft and airports in the FY27 Budget to lower interest rates on loans.
- MRO Market: A push to build a $4 billion domestic Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) market by 2031 to reduce dependency on overseas services.
“A new airport doesn’t just move people; it moves economies. We are building the infrastructure that will allow our real estate and industrial sectors to reach their trillion-dollar potential.” — K. Rammohan Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister.
