2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation

The two-day 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation (APMC) concluded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing unanimous passing of the Delhi Declaration.

The conference saw the participation of delegates from 29 Countries Ministers and Policy Makers, and 8 International Organisations including ICAO which celebrated its 80 years of operations as part of the conference. This high-level gathering brought together ministers, heads of civil aviation authorities, and key stakeholders to address the current challenges and unlock more opportunities in the region.

A significant milestone of the conference was the formal adoption of the Delhi Declaration, a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing regional cooperation, addressing emerging challenges, and fostering sustainable growth within the civil aviation sector.

Prime Minister Modi shared the technological and infrastructural advancements made by India in the sector with the top civil aviation leaders of the Asia-pacific region. Prime Minister emphasized on making the sector more inclusive for women, he said, “In India, 15 per cent of the pilots are women which is more than the global average of 5 per cent and we have issued an advisory to further increase this number.” Prime Minister also spoke about the transformation in the aviation sector in India in the last ten years and said from being aviation exclusive, India has become aviation inclusive. Highlighting the crucial role of the civil aviation sector, he said focus is on connecting people, culture and prosperity through the sector.

Earlier, Indian Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu inaugurated the Conference on September 11, 2024 in New Delhi. Addressing the conference, Rammohan Naidu outlined India’s rapid advancements in aviation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “India’s airport infrastructure has expanded from 74 operational airports in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with plans to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047”. He also added that the domestic air passengers have more than doubled in the past decade, with Indian airlines significantly expanding their fleets.

The Civil Aviation Minister also shared India’s successful Regional Connectivity Model through the UDAN scheme, which has opened up 583 new regional routes and made air travel accessible to underserved and unserved regions. He reiterated India’s commitment to making flying affordable for all citizens, with a vision of integrating helicopters, seaplanes, and widebody aircraft under the UDAN scheme.

Recalling India’s efforts in fostering a robust drone innovation ecosystem with initiatives like the Drone Didi Yojna, which aims to train 15,000 women in operating drones for agricultural purposes. The minister shared that drones have been effectively used in sectors like healthcare, rural development, and disaster relief, further enhancing economic growth and job creation.

Rammohan Naidu also stressed on the government’s focus on creating a conducive business environment in aviation, with policies supporting Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, aircraft leasing, and indigenous manufacturing. The Minister highlighted the introduction of new MRO Guidelines and the permitting of 100 per cent FDI through automatic route have been key steps towards making India a global aviation hub.

Recognising the global need for sustainable aviation, Rammohan Naidu called for increased adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and energy-efficient airport infrastructure. He highlighted India’s goal to blend SAF with jet fuel for international flights and shared the success of carbonneutral airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Cochin.

The Minister emphasized India’s leadership in promoting gender equality in aviation, with women constituting 15 per cent of the country’s pilots, three times the global average. India’s target is to increase women’s participation in the aviation workforce to 25 per cent by 2025. Naidu concluded by calling for a collaborative effort among Asia-Pacific members to build a skilled aviation workforce, integrate advanced air mobility technologies, and ensure the sector’s sustainability. He expressed optimism for the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which will serve as a roadmap for elevating aviation in the Asia-Pacific region.