India’s aviation map is set to get considerably bigger over the next decade. The government plans to build 100 new airports by 2036 under the regional connectivity scheme UDAN, with an investment of approximately INR 30,000 crore. The expansion is expected to take air travel deeper into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, remote regions, Himalayan areas and India’s islands.
The announcement was made by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu in Ahmedabad on September 2, where he inaugurated the country’s third hub-and-spoke operation. The latest initiative comes as India continues to expand its airport infrastructure and looks beyond simply adding terminals and runways towards making air travel more accessible across the country.
A Bigger Airport Network
India’s airport network has more than doubled over the past 12 years, growing from 74 airports in 2014 to 166 today. According to Naidu, the country completed work on a new airport or terminal roughly every 40 days during this period.
The next phase will focus on extending this growth beyond the country’s established aviation centres. Demand for airports is increasingly coming from smaller cities and regions where travelling to a major airport can itself involve a lengthy road or rail journey. The government sees the expansion of regional aviation as a way to make flying more accessible while also supporting tourism, trade, employment and local economies.
The Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN scheme in March this year for a 10-year period from financial year 2026-27 to 2035-36. It has a total outlay of INR 28,840 crore, supported by the Centre. The latest airport expansion plan is part of this broader push to strengthen regional air connectivity.
Connecting Beyond Cities
Building an airport, however, is only one part of making air travel genuinely useful. Naidu highlighted the need to ensure that new and existing airports have effective domestic and international connections.
This is where the hub-and-spoke model comes in. Instead of requiring travellers from smaller cities to make their own way to major international airports, the model allows regional passengers to connect through Indian aviation hubs. Varanasi and Amritsar were the first two airports to adopt the model, with Ahmedabad now becoming the third.
For passengers travelling internationally from Ahmedabad, the new arrangement is designed to make the connecting journey through Delhi more seamless. Immigration can be completed at Ahmedabad, while baggage can be checked through to the final international destination, reducing the need for passengers to collect their luggage during the connection.
Delhi currently offers direct connectivity to 54 international destinations, according to Naidu. The broader aim is to use major Indian airports as hubs while creating smoother links from other parts of the country.
Ahmedabad Takes Flight
Ahmedabad was selected for the latest hub-and-spoke operation partly because of Gujarat’s extensive overseas diaspora and sustained demand for better international connectivity from the region.
The government expects the model to improve passenger convenience while strengthening India’s position as an international aviation hub. For travellers, that could eventually mean fewer complicated airport transfers and more convenient international journeys starting closer to home.
Naidu also pointed to the wider economic role of aviation, noting that the sector generates activity and employment across several industries. Gujarat, he added, has an important role to play in the country’s National Civil Aviation Policy.
The government’s airport expansion plans come at a time when flying is becoming an increasingly important part of how Indians travel, both for leisure and business. If the next 100 airports are paired with reliable flight networks, the impact could extend well beyond aviation, bringing more destinations within easier reach and giving smaller cities a stronger place on India’s travel map.
FAQs
1. How many new airports will India build by 2036?
India plans to build 100 new airports over the next 10 years.
2. How much will India spend on the new airports?
The government plans to invest approximately INR 30,000 crore over the next decade.
3. Which areas will benefit from the airport expansion?
The plan targets tier-2 and tier-3 cities, Himalayan regions, remote areas and islands including Lakshadweep and Andaman.
4. What is the Modified UDAN scheme?
Modified UDAN is a 10-year regional connectivity scheme approved for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
5. Which airports currently have hub-and-spoke operations?
Varanasi and Amritsar were the first, followed by Ahmedabad as the third hub-and-spoke location.
