Will be 2nd largest air traffic mkt in decade: Ajit Singh

The open air policy of the government has helped achieve higher growth in the aviation sector and the country is going to be the second largest air traffic market in the world, Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said on Sunday.

Stating that the domestic carriers flew close to 162 million passengers in 2011-12, up from 143 million in 2010-11, he called for more investments in the aviation infrastructure sector, especially from the private sector, and hinted that the government might hand over the operations and management of Kolkata and Chennai airports to private parties on a PPP model.

Singh was in the city to unveil a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at the international airport named after him in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and a host of ministers.

Quoting International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, Singh said the country would be second largest air passenger traffic market in the world within a decade. Within the same time, he added, the number of international air passengers entering the country would be 84 millions while the domestic passengers would jump to 336 millions.
 
On launching more international flights from Nagpur, Singh said the city would soon be linked with some more cities besides Sharjah.

On the occasion, Chavan said his government was committed to developing the multi-modal international cargo and passengers hub in Nagpur and was looking for a partner.