With the world constantly moving forward and expanding its grasp, aviation is one of the industries that brings us all together. From reuniting families, helping out communities to making business deals a possibility. Even making dreams come true. Who has not dreamt of becoming a pilot when they were a kid? Roaming the skies and dashing through the clouds – everyone once wished of flying an airplane.
The Indian economy is at its best state and it only keeps growing. But to be able to maintain that growth, the various industries supplementing the economy need to keep up. That includes aviation. So why is aviation important to India and how can You play a part in it?
The current situation
The International Air Transport Association has estimated that aviation has added over $30 billion to the Indian economy in 2017, while also being able to create 7.5 million jobs. Of those, 390.000 were direct job openings, 570.000 in the value chain, and 6.2 million jobs are in the tourism sector.
Passenger numbers are going up at a rapid pace as well. In 2010 79 million people traveled to/from/in India. Meanwhile, in 2017 that number was 158 – double that of 2010. In the next 20 years, by 2037 the number of passengers should reach 520 million per year (!).
With a growing economy, the people who participate in it can also afford to spend more. That is why domestic routes in India hit a record-high load factor of 90% in 2018 and the domestic market grew more than the international market.
Currently, there are over 300 international destinations from India. That is 100 more destinations compared to 2008.
Those are very impressive numbers. Considering the by-product of aviation and what value it brings to the table: the indirect jobs, business opportunities and connections between India and the rest of the world, aviation is truly a very important industry in India. But what does the future hold?
A look forward
It is expected that the Indian civilian aviation market is going to be the third largest air transport market in the world in 10 years. The basis of that? The same mentioned growing economy.
Average incomes are set to rise by about $5,000 per capita. The domestic market is going to continue to spur the growth of aviation in India.
But when predicting the future, you cannot look at it through rose tinted glasses on your eyes. You have to be realistic and while the forecast is saying that the skies will be clear to fly above India, it is not that easy. There are several causes that can negatively impact development:
- Politics. UDAN-RCS project, which aims to improve the regional airport infrastructure, is an excellent start. But these are just the foundations. Liberating the aviation industry further will only help it mature. Not doing so might hinder the process.
- Favorable conditions for business and tourism. While tourist numbers keep rising, improvements to visa policies, while also preserving monuments and nature is very important to keep them going up. However, the easier for foreign companies to invest in India it is, the more demand for international travel there is. So easier foreign investment policies are needed to put in place, as India currently stands at number 100 in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business survey.
- Human Resources. Now your economic situation can be the best it has ever been, but having the correct education in place will ensure success. The demand for pilots, cabin crew and various engineers on the ground is rising all over the world. Not only India. So making it easier for the people that aspire to work in aviation to become professionals is very important. You can have the best tourism and business policies. But only the correct personnel is a must, as somebody has to fly, fix and serve the aircraft.
How can YOU help?
As mentioned above, having the correct people working in the industry is necessary to sustain growth.
But if you are dreaming of becoming a pilot or just working in aviation, what is the path you can follow?
Well, there are a few ways to do so. If you want to work in Maintenance or as an Engineer on the ground, the best way is going to a university and achieving your degree.
There are numerous ways you can become a Flight Attendant. Requirements vary between the airlines, but a high-school diploma is a must. Applying for Cabin Crew positions usually require no experience, so opportunities are always open.
We‘ve saved the best for last – if you want to become a pilot, there are many tips on how to become one. The best one we have for you is to keep building up your hours, put the work in and the opportunities will come. It takes a lot of effort to become a pilot, but when you do – the rewards make it all worthwhile.
The ever growing Indian economy is going to not only provide a better living for everyone but also provide some challenges. The bright future ahead should motivate you only to do your best. Because the only force that drives the whole industry forward are the regular people like you and me.
And with the huge potential that India‘s aviation possesses and the benefits, it brings to the economy, aviation indeed is a very important part of the future.
Sources:
- https://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2018-09-04-02.aspx
- https://www.ibef.org/industry/indian-aviation.aspx
- http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=151850
- https://www.aviationcv.com/aviation-blog/2017/pilot-career-from-dream-to-reality5353
Note: This is a guest post and has links to content by the writer/organization. Network Thoughts is in no way responsible for the content. Readers are requested to conduct their own due diligence before proceeding to deal with third parties.
NetworkThoughts 