News Excerpt:

India will host the second Asia Pacific ministerial conference on civil aviation on September 11 and 12, with representatives from about 40 countries, including China and Pakistan.

More detail about news:  

• The conference, to be held in New Delhi, will see participation from countries like China, Pakistan, Australia, Singapore, France, the US, the UK, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Japan.
• This conference will build on the foundation of regional collaboration established by the Beijing Declaration in 2018, advancing sustainable, resilient, and responsive aviation travel to meet the evolving needs of our interconnected world."
• Jointly organized by the Indian government and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) APAC, the event aims to address significant issues in the aviation sector.
• The first Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation was held in Beijing in 2018.

Significance of Aviation Industry in India:

• The Asia Pacific region is a major contributor to global air traffic, and India is recognized as the world's fastest-growing aviation market.
• The sector is on an upswing, with India the third largest in the domestic segment.
• India has made significant strides in the aviation sector and the annual passenger traffic is projected to touch 250 million.
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief noted that the Asia Pacific region accounted for over 33 percent of global flight departures in 2023.
• Over the past decade, the number of aircraft in India has doubled from 400 to more than 800, and the number of airports has grown from 74 to 157.