India has an ambitious plan to construct hundred new airports within next fifteen years. This will require an investment of around USD 60 billion (about Rs 4.2 lakh crore), Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said Tuesday.

India is expected to overtake Germany, Japan, Spain and the UK within the next ten years to become the world's third largest air passenger market.
India's domestic aviation sector has recorded double-digit growth for more than three years on the back of rising demand. This phenomenal growth requires strengthening the  infrastructure in aviation sector.

The minister said we have plans to build hundred new airports in the next 10 to 15 years. As on today, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is managing more than 120 aerodromes.

"We have to develop these airports in PPP mode. We plan to put it in the public domain for anyone interested in building infrastructure or airports will get an advanced intimation on where it is going to happen... Our strategy is clear. We need to have private sector participation," Prabhu said.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is a global grouping of more than 280 airlines, has projected that by 2037, there would be almost 520 million passengers flying to, from and within India each year.

"In 2010, 79 million people travelled to/ from/ or within India. By 2017 that doubled to 158 million. That number is expected to treble to 520 million by 2037," it noted.