📌 Topic 03 of 6 · Chapter 09 · Transport, Communication & Trade
Airways & Airports of India
AAI, major airports, UDAN scheme, Air India — complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
✈️ Civil Aviation in India
- AAI (Airports Authority of India) — manages 137 airports
- India = 3rd largest domestic aviation market in world
- Largest airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), New Delhi
- Air India — national carrier; privatised and sold to Tata Group (2022)
- DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) — regulatory body
✈️ Major International Airports
| Airport | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi International (IGI) | New Delhi | Delhi |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| Kempegowda International | Bengaluru | Karnataka |
| Rajiv Gandhi International | Hyderabad | Telangana |
| Chennai International | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
| Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International | Kolkata | West Bengal |
| Cochin International | Kochi | Kerala |
✈️ UDAN Scheme
- UDAN = Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik = regional air connectivity scheme
- Launched: 2016 under National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)
- Airfares capped at ₹2,500 for 1-hour flights
- Connected 400+ routes and 70+ airports
- Aims to make air travel affordable for common people
⭐ Key Facts — Airways:
• IGI Delhi = largest airport in India
• Air India = sold to Tata Group in 2022
• UDAN = 2016 = regional connectivity = ₹2,500 cap
• India = 3rd largest domestic aviation market
• Cochin International = first airport in India operated by a public-private partnership
• IGI Delhi = largest airport in India
• Air India = sold to Tata Group in 2022
• UDAN = 2016 = regional connectivity = ₹2,500 cap
• India = 3rd largest domestic aviation market
• Cochin International = first airport in India operated by a public-private partnership