Expanding air passenger traffic brings into focus the growing demands

SENSEX 73,852.90

 -876.37

NIFTY 22,888.95

 -257.20

CRUDEOIL 9,471.00

+ 15.00

GOLD 146,506.00

 -760.00

SILVER 208,703.00

 -1,125.00

SENSEX 73,852.90

 -876.37

NIFTY 22,888.95

 -257.20

NIFTY 22,888.95

 -257.20

CRUDEOIL 9,471.00

+ 15.00

CRUDEOIL 9,471.00

+ 15.00

GOLD 146,506.00

 -760.00

'; } document.getElementById("lgdv").innerHTML = htmlElements; } function numberformat(i) { return Number(parseFloat(i).toFixed(2)).toLocaleString('en', { minimumFractionDigits: 2 }) } async function gatherResponse(response) { const { headers } = response; const contentType = headers.get('content-type') || ''; if (contentType.includes('application/json')) { return await response.json() } return response.text(); } function getWidth() { if (Math.max(document.body.scrollWidth,document.documentElement.scrollWidth,document.body.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.clientWidth) > 991) { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "none"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "block"; } else { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "block"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "none"; } } getWidth(); THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.

As India prepares for a five-fold increase in air passenger traffic by 2047, the spotlight is on the thousands of air traffic controllers who keep the skies safe, making split-second decisions and coordinating thousands of aircraft movements every day

By BL Chennai Bureau

Updated - October 20, 2026 at 06:44 PM.

File picture of Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu | Photo Credit: SHAILENDRA BHOJAK

As millions of passengers take to the skies and India prepares for an unprecedented expansion in aviation, air traffic controllers (ATC) remain the unseen professionals and the growing demands on these professionals are coming into sharper focus as India’s aviation sector expands, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Tuesday.

Naidu was addressing (virtually) air traffic controllers (ATC) in Chennai on the occasion of the International Day of Air Traffic Controllers.

The country recorded its highest-ever monthly domestic passenger traffic in May 2026, with more than 1.5 crore passengers in a single month, the minister said. Every day, India handles more than 5,000 domestic and over 1,000 international air traffic movements, he added.

“India’s ambition to grow passenger traffic from 24 crore to 130 crore by 2047 would place greater responsibility on those managing the skies,” he added, emphasising the responsibility of ATCs.

With air traffic expected to grow substantially, modernisation of air navigation infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has earmarked ₹3,490 crore for modernising infrastructure, including ₹1,532 crore for automation of the air traffic management system.

However, technology alone cannot guarantee safety. Technology can assist, but judgment, composure and responsibility will always be human, he said.

Recognising these pressures, Naidu said the government was committed to the welfare of air traffic controllers. As part of efforts to strengthen the workforce, 840 additional controller posts have been created in recent years, he said.

Alongside investments in infrastructure and manpower, better airspace management is also helping improve operational efficiency and reduce aviation’s environmental footprint.

Flexible use of the airspace has generated estimated savings of ₹895 crore and helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1.95 lakh tonnes since August 2020, the minister said. .

Published on October 20, 2026

THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.Sign into Unlock benefits!

• Access 10 free stories per month
• Get notified by email for early preview to new features, discounts & offers