With Uttar Pradesh having over 20 domestic and five international airports, the state government is pitching for ‘Make in UP’ in the growing aviation sector. The aviation industry has projected that India would surpass the United States and China to become the world’s top market by the turn of the decade.

Uttar Pradesh will develop an aviation hub on over 1,000 acre in Noida to manufacture and assemble aircraft, and to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to both Indian and foreign planes. There are five international airports in UP and it is the only state in the country with a maximum number of airports. Three international airports are fully operational and two of the five are proposed and are expected to start functioning from 2023-2024.

Leading Indian and foreign companies, including from the US, have shown interest in setting up their manufacturing and assembly units in UP. According to Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) Chief Executive Officer Arunvir Singh, consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been tasked with preparing the layout for the hub.

“Several companies are eager to invest, and discussions and meetings have taken place with many companies,” he said.

The aviation sector is recovering fast from the pandemic blues. The domestic air traffic in the current financial year 2023-24 is expected to touch 150-155 million, crossing the pre-pandemic level.

The growing fleet of airliners, expanding network of airports, falling airfares, and the burgeoning crop of youth travellers continue to catalyse the growth of the aviation sector, providing opportunities for aircraft and spare part manufacturers as well as MRO service providers.

Meanwhile, the aviation hub will overlook the upcoming Jewar international airport in Noida, which is touted to be Asia’s largest. It will not only repair domestic aircraft but also provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services to aircraft from other countries. At present, Indian airliners have to get their aircraft repaired abroad.

Singh said the process of acquiring 1,365 hectares of land in the second phase of Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) was underway for the proposed MRO and aviation hub.

“As soon as its layout is prepared by the PwC, the NIAL Board will take decisions regarding the implementation of the state aviation hub scheme. The initiative is expected to generate employment opportunities and fulfill the vision of aviation manufacturing and MRO,” he added.

The state will also introduce an aviation manufacturing scheme to encourage airplane assembling, engine manufacturing, nozzle manufacturing, and other aircraft equipment manufacturing companies to establish their units.

Presently nine airports are functional in Uttar Pradesh and air service is available for 80 destinations. Three international airports are functional in the state and international airports are under construction at Jewar and Ayodhya.