Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday announced that India aims to establish between 350 and 400 airports by 2047, reaffirming the government’s commitment to enhancing connectivity, growth, and air safety standards across the country.

In a message delivered on his behalf at the inaugural session of the first Asia Pacific Region Accident Investigation Group (APAC-AIG) meeting held at Vigyan Bhawan, Naidu said the Asia-Pacific region has consistently set benchmarks in aviation safety oversight and accident prevention through close collaboration among member nations. “The region’s accident rate has consistently remained lower than the global average over the past decade,” he noted.

Highlighting India’s progress in aligning with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) norms, the minister said India’s compliance score has risen to 85 per cent from 70 per cent in 2018, while its global ranking has improved from 112 to 55.

The four-day meeting, hosted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), brought together officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ICAO’s Asia-Pacific regional office, and delegates from several countries.

AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar urged participants to strengthen global aviation safety through detailed investigations and actionable recommendations. He also offered India’s aviation laboratories to member nations for defect analysis and accident probe support.

Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said India has adopted ICAO’s Annex 13 standards under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, and is investing in capacity-building initiatives. These include plans for a National Aviation Safety Centre at Jewar, auditor training at Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU), and institutional strengthening of DGCA and AAIB under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024.

ICAO APAC-AIG Chairman Stuart Godley and Secretary Anam also addressed the event, stressing the importance of regional cooperation, data sharing, and safety implementation to enhance the overall aviation safety framework.