New Delhi: In a landmark achievement for India’s aviation sector, a record-breaking 5,05,412 domestic passengers departed across the country on November 17, 2024, marking the first time the daily passenger count has crossed the 5-lakh threshold. Over 3,100 flights took to the skies, underlining India’s burgeoning prominence in the global aviation industry.
This milestone reflects the sector’s rapid growth, bolstered by government initiatives such as UDAN – “Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik”, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 21, 2016. The scheme has played a pivotal role in democratizing air travel, connecting remote regions, and making flying accessible to a larger segment of the population.
Speaking on the occasion, Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu said, “This number shows that air travel is now more accessible to the people of India.” He credited schemes like UDAN for revolutionizing regional connectivity and linking remote parts of the country to global destinations.
The achievement highlights the seamless efforts of stakeholders, including airlines, airport operators, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in ensuring reliable and efficient services. Enhanced connectivity, passenger-friendly policies, and affordable airfare options have contributed significantly to this growth.
The Ministry’s initiatives—such as the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN), the development of greenfield airports, and the digitalization of passenger services—have fueled the aviation industry’s expansion, making it a vital driver of India’s economic progress.