Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has pitched India as the growth engine of Asian aviation, saying the country is ready to shape “where Asia flies next”.

Speaking at the curtain raiser for Routes Asia 2027 in New Delhi on September 29, Naidu said India would host the flagship aviation conclave from March 16 to 18, 2027, at Bharat Mandapam. The event is expected to draw over 115 airlines from 55 countries for more than 2,500 meetings.

“Routes Asia 2027 is coming to the right place, at the right time, with the right opportunity,” the minister said, unveiling the theme “Bharat Aviation Rising: Inclusive Growth — Connecting Asia & Beyond”.

He pointed to strong fundamentals: revenue passenger kilometres have grown at a 7.3 per cent CAGR over the past decade, outpacing capacity growth of 7 per cent. India has 166 operational airports, with 66 more under development and 100 more planned over the next decade.

The minister invited global airlines to deepen their India presence, especially on tier-2 and tier-3 routes.