23rd
Routes Asia to be held from 16-18 March 2027 in New Delhi
THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
India will host
Routes Asia 2027 in the national capital in March next year, bringing together
more than 115 leading airlines, airports, tourism authorities and aviation
stakeholders from over 55 countries as the country seeks to strengthen its
position as a major global aviation and connectivity hub.
Union Civil Aviation
Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday unveiled the curtain raiser for
the 24th edition of Routes Asia, which will be held from March 16-18, 2027, at Bharat
Mandapam, New Delhi.
The curtain-raiser
event was attended by representatives of 28 embassies and senior aviation
stakeholders, reflecting growing international interest in India's expanding
aviation market and the opportunities for new routes and partnerships.
Unveiling the plaque,
Naidu said Routes Asia 2027 comes at a significant juncture for India's
aviation sector, which is witnessing rapid expansion in infrastructure,
passenger traffic and international connectivity.
“Routes Asia 2027 is
coming to the right place, at the right time, with the right opportunity! There
is room for more capacity, more airlines and more routes,” he said.
The event will be
held under the theme “Bharat Aviation Rising: Inclusive Growth – Connecting
Asia & Beyond”, highlighting India's ambitions to expand air connectivity
while linking emerging markets with established aviation hubs.
Naidu said India is
advancing towards becoming the world's third-largest aviation market and
stressed the need for greater capacity, new routes and stronger airline
networks to support the country's growth.
India currently has
more than 166 airports and plans to develop another 100 airports over the next
decade. The minister also emphasised the growing relevance of the hub-and-spoke
model in connecting more cities and passengers with emerging markets.
He said India's
bilateral aviation engagements, particularly with Southeast Asian countries,
were opening up further opportunities for international connectivity.
International air travel has continued to expand, with passenger traffic
recording a compound annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent, he added.
The minister invited
airlines, airports, tourism authorities and other global aviation stakeholders
to participate in Routes Asia 2027 and explore India's growing network as well
as its diverse tourism destinations.
He also called for
greater collaboration among stakeholders to connect Tier-II cities, strengthen
international hubs and develop new routes that can support tourism, trade and
wider economic activity.
India formally
assumed hosting responsibilities for Routes Asia 2027 from China West Airport
Group during the closing ceremony of Routes Asia 2026 in Xi'an, China, in April
this year, with the Airports Authority of India receiving the hosting baton.
The 2027 edition is
expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates, including decision-makers from
leading airlines, airports and tourism authorities.
Addressing the
gathering, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said aviation plays a
transformative role in connecting people, facilitating trade and creating
economic opportunities.
He emphasised the
importance of making international travel increasingly accessible and seamless
for both tourism and business, while underlining the role of partnerships and
route development in strengthening India's aviation ecosystem.
Routes Asia 2027 is
expected to provide a strategic platform for airlines, airports and tourism
bodies to explore new air services, forge partnerships and expand connectivity
across Asia and beyond.
The event is also
being positioned as part of India's broader push for inclusive aviation-led
growth and its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
