
Mumbai, Apr 25: The Indian aviation sector is entering a new phase of transformation, with airport development moving beyond capacity creation to focus on performance, efficiency and enhanced passenger experience. Capitalizing on robust growth and an enhanced operational focus, the Airport360 Expo 2026 commenced at Mumbai’s Bombay Exhibition Centre, with the two-day event concluding on April 24.
Airport360 Expo 2026 was inaugurated by leading industry voices including Dr. Sharad Kumar, Chief Advisor, Airports Authority of India (AAI); Capt. B V J K Sharma, CEO, Navi Mumbai International Airport; Mr Shankar Dey, Deputy Vice President – Marketing, dormakaba India; Mr Susanta Sharma, Principal Director and Business Head, Aurionpro; and Mr Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion, highlighting the industry’s shared focus on advancing airport development and operational readiness.
Addressing the evolving dynamics of the aviation sector and India’s emerging role in the global landscape, Dr. Sharad Kumar, Chief Advisor, Airports Authority of India, said, “India’s aviation sector is entering a defining phase where growth must be supported by clear strategic choices. Globally, the industry is being shaped by digital transformation, sustainability, and deeper integration across aviation, logistics, tourism, and trade. At the same time, recent geopolitical developments have highlighted the sector’s vulnerability, impacting routes, costs, and operational efficiency. In this context, India has a strong advantage with rising demand, expanding infrastructure, and a clear vision to scale to around 350 airports by 2047. Initiatives such as UDAN have strengthened regional connectivity, and the next phase will focus on long-term viability, efficiency, and network integration.
A key priority ahead is to reduce dependence on foreign hubs for international traffic and capture greater value across airlines, MRO, cargo, and airport-led services. Strengthening hub infrastructure, enabling policy frameworks, and leveraging technology will be critical to positioning India as a global aviation hub. Platforms like Airport360 Expo play an important role in enabling alignment and driving execution across the ecosystem.”
Sharing his perspective on the scale of opportunity and the infrastructure priorities shaping India’s aviation growth, Capt. B. V. J. K. Sharma, CEO, Navi Mumbai International Airport, said, “India is already among the top three domestic aviation markets globally, with passenger traffic reaching around 412 million in 2025, reflecting strong growth momentum. The sector is expected to handle close to 500 million passengers before 2030 and move towards 1 billion by 2047, supported by sustained demand and fleet expansion, with over 1,000 aircraft orders in place.
Infrastructure expansion is progressing at pace, with over 160 operational airports and continued investments under National programmes. Aviation contributes nearly USD 54 billion to the economy and supports millions of jobs, with emerging segments such as MRO expected to play a significant role in strengthening the ecosystem.
At Navi Mumbai International Airport, capacity is being developed in phases to reach 90 million passengers by 2032, supported by strong connectivity, digital infrastructure, and integrated planning. As demand continues to rise, the focus will remain on building scalable, efficient, and future-ready airport ecosystems to support India’s next phase of aviation growth.”
Offering a design-led perspective on India’s rapidly evolving airport infrastructure, Mr Gurpreet Shah, Principal Architect and Urban Designer, Creative Group, said, “India’s airport growth cannot rely on borrowed design models anymore. With a population of over 1.5 billion and terminals expected to reach saturation within five to seven years, efficiency must become the starting point. As nearly 550 airstrips are expected to be operational in the next decade, the focus must shift to scalable, quick-to-build, and sustainable infrastructure. The next phase of airport development will be defined not by how iconic terminals look, but by how efficiently they perform.”
Mr. Dhananjay Patil, Specialist – Airport Terminal and Head of Aviation Architecture, Jacobs, said, “As India’s aviation sector scales rapidly, airport development must move beyond conventional expansion towards rethinking capacity within existing systems. The ability of terminals to evolve is fundamentally linked to their original planning philosophy, with flexibility and modularity becoming critical design imperatives for sustained growth. The next phase of infrastructure development will be driven by intelligent capacity optimisation through digital tools such as simulations and data-led planning, alongside targeted redevelopment where required. This integrated approach will be essential to delivering resilient, high-performance airport environments aligned with future demand.”
Mr. Debayan Sen, Managing Director, Avinia, said, “As India’s aviation sector evolves, capacity within terminals is increasingly being viewed as an elastic concept. Through process optimisation, technology integration, and improved passenger flow design, existing infrastructure can unlock an additional 25 to 50 % capacity without proportional expansion. At the same time, passenger experience and commercial performance are closely linked. Seamless journeys directly influence dwell time and spend, making experience-led design, spatial planning, and tenant mix critical to airport performance. Globally, leading airports are investing in creating destination-led environments, and Indian airports are steadily moving in that direction, where the integration of capacity, experience, and commercial strategy will define the next phase of growth.”
Mr. Patrick Keane, Director, Enter Projects Asia, said, “The real challenge in aviation today is not within the terminal alone, but in the transitions before and after the airport journey. Seamless integration across touchpoints, from check-in to security and final boarding, ultimately shapes passenger experience. Globally, leading airports have demonstrated how process design and decentralised systems can significantly reduce friction and waiting time. Indian airports are increasingly moving in this direction, focusing on open, efficient environments that prioritise flow over congestion. The next phase of airport development will be defined by how effectively these transitions are simplified, enabling passengers to spend less time navigating processes and more time engaging with the airport experience.”
Tang Kai Vern, Executive Vice President (Aviation Health and Wellness Group), CPG Corporation, said, “Airports like Singapore’s Changi have demonstrated how the journey can begin well before a passenger enters the terminal, by extending key functions such as check-in and baggage handling into landside environments and pairing them with strong retail and lifestyle offerings. This fundamentally shifts passenger behaviour, encouraging earlier arrivals and higher engagement.
In India, airport development has made significant progress in terms of scale and efficiency, and the next step is to build on this momentum by exploring similar extensions beyond the terminal footprint. Creating synergies between airport operations and adjacent commercial spaces can unlock new value, both in terms of passenger experience and revenue potential. As traffic continues to grow, the opportunity lies in reimagining airports as integrated environments where travel, commerce, and urban infrastructure come together in a more cohesive and future-ready manner.”
Organised by Media Fusion, the second edition of Airport360 Expo has brought together over 2,500 industry professionals, more than 70 exhibitors, over 200 aviation experts and decision-makers, and participation from over 10 countries, including Germany, Singapore, Oman, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Thailand.
Commenting on the sector’s growth and the vision behind Airport 360 Expo, Mr Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion, said, “India’s aviation market is on track to scale from about approx. USD 30 billion today to nearly USD 1 trillion by 2047, and airport infrastructure will be at the centre of this expansion. With air travel penetration still at a fraction of its potential, the focus is now shifting to building airports that can perform at scale. At the same time, the MRO segment is gaining strong traction, projected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2031, supported by 100 % FDI and a uniform 5% IGST structure. Airport360 Expo 2026 brings the industry together to align design operations and technology with the next phase of aviation growth.”
Airport360 Expo 2026 showcased a wide range of solutions across terminal design, digital systems, airside operations, safety, security and MRO services, reflecting the increasing integration of technology in airport infrastructure.
The two-day expo featured participation from leading organisations such as NMIAL, Dallmeier, OCS Group, Adani, Ivii GmbH, Leonardo, Dormakaba, Atenti Led Display, Samarth Security, MBM India, Aurionpro, Vehant Technology, Amadeus, and AIESL, among others. Their presence underscored the sector’s shift towards smarter, more efficient, and technology-led airport ecosystems.
Running alongside the exhibition, the Airport360 Conference, centred on the theme “Building Airports That Perform Design Operations and Readiness for India’s Next Aviation Surge,” featuring a total of 12 sessions that brought together global and Indian experts to deliberate on airport operations, infrastructure planning, passenger experience, and commercial aviation growth.
India’s aviation sector continued to demonstrate steady expansion, supported by increasing passenger demand, policy support, and infrastructure investments. With air travel penetration still significantly below global averages, the sector presents strong long-term growth potential, with airports increasingly positioned as drivers of regional economic development.