India Jetting Records: Air Connectivity Sees Fastest Growth In Five Years, Says Global Air Transport Association

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has stated that India’s air connectivity has grown the fastest in the last five years with strong growth ahead, despite infrastructural hurdles, reports The Hindu.

Brian Pearce, the Chief Economist of IATA, said that India is the fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world, as the country has entered double-digit growth for the 50th consecutive month in October.

An analysis in a presentation at Geneva during Global Media Day showed that the markets where connectivity grew the fastest were all Asian countries, with India taking the lead at 114 per cent.

Connectivity is defined as the “extent to which a country is integrated into the global air transport network”.

Even though several foreign and Indian airlines have commenced flights to and from many Indian cities, there are substantial infrastructure challenges along with a crowded population. Concession agreements with large royalties are leading to rising airport charges. Of this, a large portion of the gross revenue is diverted to the government and not ploughed back into aviation.

Noting that modern airports are being built, which is very positive, he reiterated that the future should be “affordable rates and good infrastructure”.