Union Civil Aviation Minister Inaugurates 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference

Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, inaugurated the 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation (APMC) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 11th September. Along with him, the Union Minister for State also attended the event.

Vision of the event

Asia-Pacific region to build a more connected, resilient and robust aviation landscape

Highlights of the event

The Growth Story of Civil Aviation in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Union Minister noted that commercial aviation in the region began nearly a century ago, and today, the region is poised to become the largest aviation market by 2035, with over 3.5 billion passengers annually. He called for strategic investments in infrastructure and collaboration among regional stakeholders to ensure sustainable and balanced growth across the sector.

Selection of chairman

Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu’s nomination as Chairman of the APMC after being nominated by Singapore and recommended by Bhutan.

Remarks by the minister

India’s airport infrastructure has expanded from 74 operational airports in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with plans to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047

also added that the domestic air passengers have more than doubled in the past decade, with Indian airlines significantly expanding their fleets

also shared India’s successful Regional Connectivity Model through the UDAN (Ude desh ka aam nagarik) scheme, which has opened up 583 new regional routes and made air travel accessible to underserved and unserved regions.

Climate change perspective

International civil aviation organization (ICAO) has set the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

called for increased adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and energy-efficient airport infrastructure

Delhi declaration outcome

It will represent a significant step forward in advancing safety, security, and sustainability in the Asia Pacific civil aviation sector and highlights the spirit of cooperation that exists among the countries of the region.