Domestic passenger numbers would exceed the pre-pandemic levels by 2023-2024, Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said in the Lok Sabha.
"Pre-COVID-19, there was a passenger throughput of 35 crore, which fell by 66% to 11.5 crore. In 2023-2024, we will bring this figure to 40 crore passengers," he stated. In order to achieve this, the government would focus on "inclusion, access and affordability".
To illustrate this point, the Minister drew a comparison between air travellers and train passengers of first AC and second AC classes. He said while there were 14.5 crore air travellers, those travelling in first and second AC classes were at 18.5 crore. But the compound annual growth rate of aviation was at 11%, while that of railways was 5.6%. "This shows that today this service [air travel] is a common man's demand," he noted.
