The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revised over 100 civil aviation regulations in the past six months following extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, its Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at a panel discussion during the Aviation India and South Asia 2025 conference in the national capital, Kidwai emphasised that India, one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, is "on the right track" with the right policies and emerging ecosystem. He urged the industry to capitalise on this momentum to propel the sector forward.

Kidwai highlighted the scale of reforms, noting that out of approximately 200 civil aviation regulations, nearly half have been updated in just six months through collaborative efforts. "We are at the cusp of huge growth," he stated, pointing to massive aircraft orders placed by domestic carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air, which are set to modernise the fleet and boost connectivity.

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Despite this, India's per capita air travel remains among the lowest globally at around 0.07 trips per year, compared to over 2 in developed markets, underscoring vast untapped potential in a population of 1.4 billion.

Projections indicate India could operate around 3,000 commercial aircraft in the coming decades, up from about 700 today, positioning it to become the third-largest aviation market by 2030. The regulatory overhaul addresses key pain points such as safety enhancements, pilot training standards, airport infrastructure, and sustainable aviation fuel mandates, aligning with the government's UDAN scheme for regional connectivity and the vision of 220 operational airports by 2025.

Kidwai's optimistic outlook—"with the right kind of mindset and the ecosystem... now it is for the industry to take it forward"—signals regulatory readiness for explosive expansion. As passenger traffic surges toward 300 million annually by 2030, these reforms aim to ensure safety, efficiency, and global competitiveness, transforming India from an emerging player into an aviation powerhouse.

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