<p>India’s airline industry has welcomed the government’s vision to develop underserved airports of the country, since it will help not only foster connectivity in different regions, but also help grow the overall industry.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While this year’s Budget did not roll out massive packages for the airline industry, it did offer some consolation in the form of plans to develop 160 non-functional airports at a cost of Rs 50-100 crore each, along with 10 of 25 defunct airstrips, in partnership with state governments.<br /><br />Talking to Deccan Herald, Air Costa Chairman Ashok Lingamaneni said, “It is a good move. A major part of the growth in Indian aviation and the actual economic growth of the country is stemming from the smaller cities and towns. If we are able to connect a significant number of these small towns, I think the economy will see greater growth.”<br /><br />Vijayawada-based Air Costa is a regional airline that is bullish on expanding its network. “Our long-term plan will be to extend our current philosophy of connecting the metros to smaller towns and cities at a pan-India level. We believe that the market for 80-120 seats (the airline flies Brazilian Embraer aircraft) is the fastest growing segment, and will dominate the aviation space in the coming years, as we see the demand for air travel increasing in more tier II and tier III cities,” Lingamaneni added.<br /><br />Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO of Vistara, said, “A major focus on this sector is the revival of underserved airports to enhance regional connectivity, and in this regard, we would like to assure the government of our solidarity in expanding our footprint to connect India better.”<br /><br />India aims to become the third-largest aviation market by 2020, and the largest by 2030. The airline industry has ushered in a new era of expansion, driven by low-cost carriers, modern airports, FDI in domestic airlines, and above all, growing emphasis on regional connectivity.<br /></p>
<p>India’s airline industry has welcomed the government’s vision to develop underserved airports of the country, since it will help not only foster connectivity in different regions, but also help grow the overall industry.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While this year’s Budget did not roll out massive packages for the airline industry, it did offer some consolation in the form of plans to develop 160 non-functional airports at a cost of Rs 50-100 crore each, along with 10 of 25 defunct airstrips, in partnership with state governments.<br /><br />Talking to Deccan Herald, Air Costa Chairman Ashok Lingamaneni said, “It is a good move. A major part of the growth in Indian aviation and the actual economic growth of the country is stemming from the smaller cities and towns. If we are able to connect a significant number of these small towns, I think the economy will see greater growth.”<br /><br />Vijayawada-based Air Costa is a regional airline that is bullish on expanding its network. “Our long-term plan will be to extend our current philosophy of connecting the metros to smaller towns and cities at a pan-India level. We believe that the market for 80-120 seats (the airline flies Brazilian Embraer aircraft) is the fastest growing segment, and will dominate the aviation space in the coming years, as we see the demand for air travel increasing in more tier II and tier III cities,” Lingamaneni added.<br /><br />Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO of Vistara, said, “A major focus on this sector is the revival of underserved airports to enhance regional connectivity, and in this regard, we would like to assure the government of our solidarity in expanding our footprint to connect India better.”<br /><br />India aims to become the third-largest aviation market by 2020, and the largest by 2030. The airline industry has ushered in a new era of expansion, driven by low-cost carriers, modern airports, FDI in domestic airlines, and above all, growing emphasis on regional connectivity.<br /></p>