Modernising airports through automation and advanced technology is essential for the next phase of growth in India’s civil aviation sector, experts said at a roundtable on airport transformation held during Wings India 2026.
Vipin Kumar, Chairman of the Airports Authority of India, said the future lies in developing multi-airport systems similar to the new airports at Noida and Navi Mumbai. He stressed the need to expand capacity without compromising quality. “Capacity with quality needs to be increased. We need more flights, more cargo and more airports,” he said. He added that government measures over the last 10 years had supported strong sector growth.
India recorded a compound annual growth rate of 8.3% in civil aviation over the last 10 years, compared to the global average of 3.5%. Kumar highlighted that Digi Yatra, implemented at 16 airports, reduced passenger waiting time in queues by 25% to 30%. He also pointed out that future airport planning must integrate infrastructure upgrades with sustainability goals.
Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings, said key challenges include policy advocacy, technology adoption and bilateral seat allocation. “We are the slowest in the world in adoption of technology in aviation,” he said. Bansal added that for India to become a global aviation hub, the country must prioritise aviation-related manufacturing.
Stefano Baronci, Director-General of Airports Council International for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, said risk management should be a “top of the agenda.” He noted that the Indian aviation industry must focus on optimising existing capacity while also creating new infrastructure. “Multi-lateral solutions are need through collaboration,” he added.
The experts agreed that full automation using AI and advanced systems would play a central role in future airport operations. They underlined that faster technology adoption, combined with expanded manufacturing and multi-airport development, is necessary to support rising passenger and cargo demand.
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