New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) At 51.53 million, domestic air passenger traffic grew by 19 percent in 2010 compared to 43.3 million in 2009, according to the Economic Survey 2010-11 tabled by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha Friday.
‘The civil aviation sector witnessed a strong recovery during 2010 from the adverse impact of the recent global financial crisis,’ said the Economic survey.
According to it, apart from passenger traffic growth, cargo traffic too grew at a good pace with an increase of 30 percent at 4.7 million tonnes as against 3.4 million tonnes.
The survey further said air traffic has grown by 18 percent since 2004, with a fleet of 360 aircraft with the domestic airlines in the country.
‘The potential for higher levels of growth in the future is also very high,’ the survey said, while adding that the country is expected to be the fastest growing civil aviation market in the world by 2020 with about 420 million passengers being handled by the Indian airport system.
Meanwhile, the survey said modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports was under way with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) spending an estimated Rs.2,325 crore and Rs.2,015 crore respectively. Both the projects are expected to be completed between May-October 2011.
In terms of modernisation of non-metro airports the survey said 35 projects were granted in 2006 with a cost of Rs.300 crore, while 11 have been completed, 19 are under implementation.
