Picture credits: X
New Delhi: The Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, outlines key developments for India’s aviation sector, focusing on regional connectivity, airport expansion, and air cargo infrastructure.
Funding and Expansion Plans
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has been allocated ₹2,400.31 crore for the year, a slight reduction from ₹2,658.68 crore in the previous budget. The UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, aimed at making air travel affordable and accessible, will receive ₹540 crore to further enhance regional connectivity.
India’s domestic aviation market continues to grow, with annual passenger traffic crossing 350 million, making it the third-largest aviation market globally. Over the past decade, the number of airports has more than doubled to 159, and the government now plans to develop 50 more airports over the next five years. In Bihar, new Greenfield airports will be developed alongside the expansion of Patna airport and the establishment of a brownfield airport at Bihta.
The allocation for Customs Cost Recovery (CCR) charges to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS) for airports in tier II and III cities has increased to ₹142.75 crore, up from ₹124.17 crore in the previous year.
Strengthening Regional Connectivity
The UDAN scheme which was introduced in 2017 has played a significant role in connecting smaller cities, with 619 routes operational and 88 airports linked. A revamped version of the scheme will introduce 120 new destinations, focusing on helipads and smaller airports in remote and hilly regions, including the North East. So far, 1.5 crore passengers have benefited from UDAN, with plans to expand this to 4 crore more in the next decade.
Boosting Air Cargo Infrastructure
Picture source: Wikipedia
India’s air cargo sector is growing at over 10% annually, with airport cargo handling capacity reaching 8.0 million MT in FY24. The Budget highlights a focus on air cargo warehousing, particularly for perishable goods, to boost exports and domestic trade. Additionally, efforts are underway to streamline cargo screening and customs processes to improve efficiency and ease of doing business.
Stay tuned to Aviation Today for latest aviation news.
![Washington, United States: A United Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City made an emergency diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler, according to air traffic control communications and federal authorities. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1551, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft had been en route to Guatemala City when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to audio between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the pilot informed controllers that the disruptive passenger attempted to open Door 2L while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. The pilot also reported that the passenger later assaulted another individual onboard. During the exchange, the tower asked the crew which door the passenger had attempted to access. The pilot responded: “Door 2L at 36,000 feet and then [the passenger] assaulted a fellow passenger.” When controllers asked whether there were any injuries onboard, the pilot replied: “Not to our knowledge.” The aircraft landed safely at Washington Dulles at approximately 8:38 p.m. local time. Law enforcement and emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. The FBI later confirmed that agents responded to the incident at the airport, although the agency did not immediately release additional details regarding the passenger’s identity, possible charges, or whether the individual was taken into federal custody. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained airborne for a period before diverting toward the Washington region instead of continuing south toward Guatemala. The diversion temporarily disrupted the scheduled international service but no injuries among passengers or crew were officially reported. United Airlines had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of publication regarding the circumstances surrounding the diversion or the status of the passenger involved. Federal authorities are expected to review crew reports, passenger statements, and onboard evidence as part of the investigation.](https://aviationtoday.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AVIATION-TODAY-UNITEDV-AIRLINES-RUDE-PASSENGER-768x432.jpg)
