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Indian minister outlines post-Covid aviation plans

India’s new Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia plans to restore his country’s position as the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world with over 341 million passengers in the year before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Jyotiraditya Scindia

India’s new Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia plans to restore the country’s position as the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world with over 341 million passengers in the year before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
In a series of steps, such as getting new legislation passed in Parliament, public outreach and dialogue with state chief ministers, Scindia pointed out that India was "poised to become the third-largest overall market in three years untill the Covid-19 headwinds hit markets across the world."
 
Central to Scindia’s efforts to reclaim India’s potential as a leading aviation market in the world, is technology.
 
Minister of State for Civil Aviation General V K Singh told members of the Lower House of India’s Parliament, the Lok Sabha, in writing that "contactless, seamless and paperless handling of passengers from the entry gate of terminals to the boarding point" will become a reality at many airports in a phased manner, Emirates news agency WAM reported.
 
Six airports in India are using facial recognition technology in a project which is at the trial stage. "Upon successful completion, the same will be implemented across other airports in a phased manner," the Minister of State wrote.
 
Scindia has written to almost all state chief ministers requesting their personal intervention in expediting matters for strengthening aviation infrastructure in states.
 
For example, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been asked for land for the development of aprons, construction of new terminal buildings, cargo complexes and car parking.
 
Vijayan, in turn, has sought Scindia’s help in relieving the financial burden on unskilled and semi-skilled workers from Kerala who are returning to Gulf following a return of post-Covid stability there by slashing the airfares and making them more affordable.

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