India Closely Monitoring West Asia Tensions, Says Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu

New Delhi, May 2026: Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday said India is closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical tensions in West Asia and remains prepared to respond to any possible impact on critical sectors, including aviation. However, he asserted that the current developments are “not worrisome for India at present”.

Speaking to reporters during his maiden visit to Ranchi after assuming office, the minister said the Centre was maintaining constant vigilance over the situation and assessing both immediate and long-term implications for the country’s economy and transport network.

“The situation is not alarming at present, but we have to remain alert. Every sector, including civil aviation, must continuously assess possible impacts and prepare short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies,” Naidu said.

The minister’s remarks come amid growing international concern over instability in West Asia, a region crucial for global energy supplies, aviation routes and trade flows. India, which has significant economic and strategic interests in the region, has been carefully tracking the developments.

Addressing concerns about rising airfares in the wake of global uncertainty, Naidu said the government has already initiated measures aimed at reducing operational costs for airlines and protecting passengers from additional financial burden.

He pointed out that aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, along with airport landing and parking charges, had been reduced to help airlines maintain fare stability. The minister also welcomed the recent decision by the Delhi government to cut value-added tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel from 25 per cent to 7 per cent, describing it as a significant relief for the aviation sector.

“Nearly five lakh passengers travel daily on domestic routes in India. We are continuously monitoring airfare trends. If passenger demand increases, we will enhance connectivity and deploy additional aircraft to ensure smoother travel,” he said.

During his visit to Ranchi, Naidu launched several passenger-centric initiatives at Birsa Munda Airport and outlined the Centre’s broader aviation expansion plans.

He announced that the modified version of the regional connectivity initiative, the UDAN Scheme, would soon be rolled out with an estimated outlay of around Rs 29,000 crore. According to the minister, the revamped scheme aims to develop 100 new airports and 200 helipads across the country over the next decade.

The government also plans to expand the “Udan Yatri Cafe” initiative at airports to provide affordable food options for passengers, especially those travelling on regional routes.

Highlighting the rapid growth of India’s aviation sector over the past decade, Naidu said the country has witnessed a remarkable expansion in airport infrastructure and passenger traffic.

“In the last 10 years, the number of airports, aircraft and passengers has doubled. India had only 74 airports in 2014, and today the number has increased to 165. No other country has witnessed such rapid airport expansion. This transformation has been possible because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of enabling ‘Hawai Chappal to Hawai Jahaj’ travel,” the minister said.

He added that airport modernisation and enhanced connectivity with major cities remain central to the government’s long-term aviation roadmap.