Come up with ideas to develop air services: Minister

Union Minister of Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Friday called upon various stakeholders to come up with new ideas for improved air services delivery in India.

"India is on the path of growth providing immense economic opportunities. Growth of air passenger traffic and air cargo traffic also needs to be given due importance.

"There is a need to plan for the future while deriving inspiration from the past," Raju said in a statement.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman R.K. Srivastava said India continues to remain one of the least air services penetrated market in the world with 0.4 trips per capita per annum compared to two in the US despite the projected growth.

"India has strong 300 million middle income group with disposable income to travel at least once in a year by air," said Srivastava in the statement.

Srivastava said India's airport terminals capacity as on date is 250 million while only 190 is being utilized.

India needs an additional capacity of 222 million in the next 10 years with the present growth trends.

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) M. Sathiyavathy said passenger usage of airports was the only option to generate business considering the security scenario and emphasized on maximum use of airports.