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India will require 30,000 pilots in the coming 15-20 years as the domestic carriers have over 1,700 aircraft on order as they grow their network, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu stated on Tuesday. Asserting that the ministry is acting with a collective vision for the aviation sector, he further stated that the officials are checking different parameters of 38 Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) and the organisations will be graded.
The minister was addressing a function to commemorate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an order for 200 trainer aircraft.
Indian airlines have ordered over 1,700 aircraft and at present, there are over 800 planes, Naidu stated.
Currently, there are 6,000-7,000 working pilots and in the next 15 to 20 years, the nation will require 30,000 pilots, the minister stated and also proposed that India become a training hub.
India is among the fastest developing civil aviation markets in the world.
Efforts are being undertaken to classify airports, including the possibility of having special airports for cargo and FTOs, the minister said.

IndiGo has aligned itself with Amadeus to apply the Amadeus Segment Revenue Management Flex (SRM Flex), a powerful cloud-based Revenue Management system. This web-enabled solution is to be integrated into IndiGo's Navitaire New Skies Passenger Service System (PSS) using a Revenue Management Integration Service, facilitating data exchange in near real-time.
The system enables the airline to react quickly to market fluctuations such as new bookings or equipment updates. It has flexible price-setting capabilities, enabling rule-based, science-based, or hybrid approaches. Moreover, the automation of trivial tasks improves operational effectiveness and revenue opportunities.
Abhijit Dasgupta, SVP – Planning and Revenue Management at IndiGo, emphasized that the partnership is conducive to IndiGo's growth strategy by enhancing automation, data-driven decision-making, and efficiency. The partnership also links IndiGo's machine learning capabilities with Amadeus technology, creating an ecosystem for future growth.
IndiGo, with a fleet size of more than 400 aircraft, flies 2,200+ daily flights to 120+ destinations, including 38 international routes. In 2023, it transported more than 113 million passengers and launched IndiGoStretch business class and the IndiGo BluChip loyalty program.

India's low-cost carriers, such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa, and Air India Express, will relocate operations to the new $2.1 billion Navi Mumbai Airport, constructed by billionaire Gautam Adani. Opening in May, the airport will seek to alleviate congestion at Mumbai and emerge as an international transit point.
While Air India's full-service carrier will continue to operate from the current airport, it will phase out domestic flights to Navi Mumbai. The new airport, with a lotus-shaped terminal, will begin with a capacity of 20 million passengers and expand to 90 million in ten years.
But the absence of high-speed transport connections between the two airports presents difficulties in persuading passengers. Airlines are negotiating slot preferences and inducements to compensate for likely passenger hesitation.
Adani Airports is also in talks with Star Alliance to shift operations. Test flights, including the wide-body plane of Air India, will take place in April. The third and final stage of the project will check the infrastructure abilities of Adani Group amidst allegations of bribery made by US officials, which have been refuted by the conglomerate.

Air India is shifting its non-stop Delhi-Tokyo flights from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Haneda Airport (HND) starting March 31, 2025. The airline will operate four weekly flights, offering passengers a shorter, more cost-effective route to central Tokyo. Haneda is just 18 km from downtown Tokyo, significantly cutting travel time compared to Narita, which is 70 km away.
The decision comes amid rising travel demand, with 233,000 Indian tourists visiting Japan in 2024—a 40% increase from the previous year. Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nipun Aggarwal, emphasized the benefits of the move, stating it will enhance connectivity and boost trade and tourism between India and Japan.
Air India has also expanded its codeshare agreement with All Nippon Airways (ANA). From April 1, 2025, Air India will place its ‘AI’ code on ANA flights to six Japanese cities, while ANA will code-share on Air India’s Delhi-Haneda route and domestic Indian flights.
The flights will be operated using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, offering Business and Economy class seating. Passengers on codeshare flights will enjoy Star Alliance benefits, including lounge access and priority boarding.