India Aims to Increase Women's Participation in Aviation Workforce to 25% by 2025- Naidu

Shri Rammohan Naidu expressed gratitude to ICAO for its support and lauded the organization's 80 years of advancing global aviation safety standards.

The 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. Key participants included Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, ICAO President, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, and Civil Aviation Secretary, Shri Vumlunmang Vualnam, along with delegates from 29 Asia-Pacific countries.

Shri Rammohan Naidu expressed gratitude to ICAO for its support and lauded the organization's 80 years of advancing global aviation safety standards. He emphasized that the Asia-Pacific region is poised to become the largest aviation market by 2035, carrying over 3.5 billion passengers annually. To achieve this, the Minister stressed the need for strategic investments in infrastructure and collaboration. Key Highlights:

India’s Aviation Growth: Since 2014, India’s operational airports have increased from 74 to 157, with a target of reaching 350-400 by 2047. Domestic air passengers have more than doubled, and airlines have significantly expanded their fleets.

Regional Connectivity: India’s UDAN scheme has added 583 new routes, opening air travel to underserved areas. Plans to integrate helicopters, seaplanes, and widebody aircraft into UDAN were highlighted.

Technological Innovation: India is leading with tools like Digi Yatra for biometric-based seamless travel and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility. India has also fostered a robust drone ecosystem through initiatives like Drone Didi Yojna, training 15,000 women in drone operation.

Sustainable Aviation: The Minister emphasized India’s adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and the creation of carbon-neutral airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Cochin. India aims to blend SAF in jet fuels for international flights.

Women in Aviation: India is promoting gender equality, with women constituting 15% of the country’s pilots, three times the global average. The government aims to increase women's participation in the aviation workforce to 25% by 2025.

Collaborative EffortsThe Minister called for regional collaboration on aviation safety, navigation systems, and air traffic management. He highlighted the need for the Asia-Pacific members to work together on improving aviation safety and technological integration. The Delhi Declaration is expected to serve as a roadmap for elevating aviation in the region.

Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, emphasized that the conference's deliberations on aviation safety, security, and green aviation would ensure sustainable regional cooperation. ICAO President Salvatore Sciacchitano praised India’s leadership in SAF initiatives and urged global collaboration towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.