Revolutionized by liberalization, the
aviation sector in India has witnessed a fast paced change in the past
few years. The years 2004– 05, 2005 - 06 and 2006 – 07 have been years
of record growth in air traffic in India. During the period April to
Sept.2006, the International and Domestic passengers recorded growth of
15 – 8 percent and 44.6 percent respectively, leading to an over all
growth of 35.5 percent. During the same period, International and
Domestic Cargo recorded growth of 13.8 % and 8.7% respectively,
resulting in an over all growth of 12%.
The promise of the potential aviation
market in India is really awesome. Over 135 aircraft have been added to
the India’s fleet the last two years above. And a rise of up to 500 –
550 aircraft is expected by the year 2010. In the same period, the
domestic market size in expected to cross 60 million and international
market size 20 million. According to Civil Aviation Minister Praful
Patel, the country will need 1,500 to 2000 passenger planes in the
coming ten years, from a figure of 260 now.
According to a survey by the
Airports Council International (ACI), Asia will be the fastest – growing
region with an annual 9% growth. The two fastest growing aviation
markets are set to be India (10.4%) and China (8%) in the next 20 years.
And this hike in action is not
limited to urban airports alone. The Government plans to develop around
300 unused airstrips across India- a move that has raised projections
for jets required for regional connectivity. The US – based Boeing and
Europe’s Airbus, along with Embracer, (Brazil) and Bombardier (Canada) ,
Sukhoi (Russia), ATR (France) and BAE System (UK) are all keen to tap
the emerging regional jet market in the country.
In this fast changing scenario each
state of India plays a pivotal role in planning and enacting its role in
the growth of aviation market. The state of Rajasthan with an area of
342236 sq .kms, and a population of 5,6470000 is a major shareholder in
the Tourism sector of India .More than 67 lakh domestic and 5 lakh
foreign tourists visited Rajasthan in the year 2005 to 2006 and there is
a growth of 55% in the tourists visiting Rajasthan in the recent times.
The Important cities of Rajasthan,
like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Kota are connected by Air.
Jaipur Airport has a runaway 2797 metres presently and all facilities
to receive domestic and international flights. A state of the Art
International Terminal Building in being constructed at the Jaipur
Airport to augment the facilitations made available to our valued
customers. The runway is in the process of being extended to 11,500 feet
and 10 more parking bays for wide bodied aircraft are being
constructed. Jaipur Airport boasts of satisfying the quality standards
of ISO 9001:2000, ISO14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:1999.
The dynamic and Aviation minded Chief
Minister of Rajasthan, Smt Vasundhra Raje, is doing her best to
encourage the Air Taxi Operations to expand their services in the state.
She has offered the use of State
Government owned 14 air strips in Rajasthan and some other facilities
and discounts to facilitate the ATO’s operation in the state. She has
very futuristic plans for the state and wants to promote inter Rajasthan
connectivity by offering the state Govt. owned aircraft for charters.
For this the Govt. of Rajasthan plans to operate a Rajasthan Air
Corporation. To address the shortage of pilots in the country she
proposes to invite expression of interests from Flying Clubs all over
India to use the Government owned strips for training of pilots. Thus
giving opportunity to the youth in Rajasthan.
In such a scenario
when we are so bullish and can see all our aviation dreams becoming
fulfilled ,let us all pitch in everything and anything that is in us and
with us and create a team INDIA the world is proud of. Let us be proud
that we are born at the right moment and seize the enormous
opportunity aviation has to offer to us. IF NOT US, THEN WHO??? IF NOT
NOW, THEN WHEN??? SO, LETS SCRAMBLE AND DO IT.