Aero India 2019: India seeks tie-ups to make aircraft locally; to invest $65 bn to construct 100 more airports: Suresh Prabhu

Bengaluru: The aviation market in India has begun to “explode” and the country is looking forward to partnerships to locally manufacture aircraft, Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_5445831” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Union minister Suresh Prabhu. AFP[/caption] Wooing investors at the inaugural session of the biennial Aero India Show here, Prabhu said, “India’s aviation market is now beginning to explode…” “So far, we have had limited airports, very limited connectivity. But now, we have added more airports, taking the number to 103,” he added. “In the next 15 years we will add another 100 airports with an investment of $65 billion,” he said further. Highlighting the ministry’s comprehensive strategy in the aviation sector, Prabhu said it has come out with ‘Vision 2040’ and to realise it, India would require 2,300 new aeroplanes. “We look forward to partnerships to make aircraft in India. To make that (possible), we are coming out with an action plan, vision and road map,” he said. The civil aviation minister also noted that the government has come out with an air cargo policy.