Short answer: India is the world's third largest domestic aviation market, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The number of operational airports rose from 74 in 2014 to 163 in 2025, domestic airlines carried about 16.69 crore passengers in 2025, and Indian airlines have about 1,700 aircraft on order. The government projects a need for 30,000 to 34,000 pilots over the next 10 to 15 years, and many more people for cabin, ground, airport and travel roles. That is why aviation training has become a serious education business. Growth is not a straight line, though, and 2026 traffic has been flat so far.
This guide is for students, parents and education entrepreneurs who want the big picture: how large Indian aviation is, where the jobs are, why training demand is rising and what that means if you are looking at an aviation training franchise. All figures come from government data and the news reports named in the text. This article is general information, not legal advice.
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India's aviation industry in numbers
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rank as a domestic aviation market | Third largest in the world | Ministry of Civil Aviation via PIB, 2025 |
| Operational airports | 74 in 2014, 163 in 2025 | PIB, 2025 |
| Airport target | 350 to 400 by 2047 | PIB, 2025 |
| Commercial airline fleet | 400 in 2014, projected around 2,359 by March 2040 | PIB, 2025 |
| Domestic passengers, 2024 | about 16.13 crore | DGCA |
| Domestic passengers, 2025 | about 16.69 crore, up 3.48% | DGCA |
| Domestic passengers, January to August 2026 | about 11.05 crore, down 0.18% on the year before | DGCA, reported September 2026 |
| Aircraft on order with Indian airlines | about 1,700 | Civil Aviation Minister, November 2025 |
The Ministry of Civil Aviation's 2025 annual report counts 164 airports, including one run by a state government, and says more than 159 lakh passengers have flown on routes under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
The 2026 figures are a useful reality check. Demand has grown strongly over the decade, but the year so far has been flat, and August 2026 on its own was down 6.34% on August 2025. Anyone building a business around aviation should plan for cycles, not a steady climb.
Why pilots are in short supply
The government's own statements point to a gap:
- The Press Information Bureau (PIB) says India needs 30,000 to 34,000 pilots in the next 10 to 15 years, and that the government is expanding flying training organisations (FTOs) to meet it.
- In November 2025, the Civil Aviation Minister said India had about 8,000 pilots for a fleet of 834 aircraft, and that the 1,700 aircraft on order would need roughly 25,000 to 30,000 more, at 10 to 15 pilots per aircraft.
- A parliamentary standing committee report in March 2025 said airlines need roughly 1,000 commercial pilots a year, while Indian FTOs produce about 300 and another 300 train abroad. It also pointed to long training times, high cost and a shortage of trainer aircraft and instructors.
PIB also notes that women make up 13% to 18% of India's pilots. Our guide on how to become a pilot in India covers the licence steps.
Jobs beyond the cockpit
Pilots get the headlines, but most aviation jobs are on the ground or in the cabin:
- Cabin crew for passenger safety and service on board
- Airport and airline customer service: check in, boarding, ticketing and lounges
- Ground handling: ramp, baggage, cargo and aircraft turnaround
- Airport operations and security
- Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and engineering
- Travel, tourism and hospitality roles linked to air travel
PIB says the sector already supports over 7.7 million jobs across direct and connected work, of which about 3.69 lakh are direct jobs. It projects 25 million jobs linked to aviation by 2047, alongside growth in MRO, drone manufacturing and pilot training. Treat that as a long range government projection, not a hiring forecast for any one year.
New airports and new aircraft both need trained people before they open or fly. Our guides to the air hostess and cabin crew course and aviation courses after 12th explain the routes in.
What it means for Gujarat
Gujarat has a growing aviation base. Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport handled about 1.38 crore passengers in FY 2025 to 26, about 1.14 crore domestic and 24 lakh international, according to official figures reported by DeshGujarat. The same figures show about 1.09 lakh flight movements at the airport in that year. Students in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat increasingly look for aviation, hospitality and travel training close to home rather than moving to a metro.
If you own a brand in the state and want to grow it through franchising, our guide on how to franchise your business in Gujarat covers the steps.
Aviation training as a business
When an industry needs more trained people, training becomes a business. Aviation training covers several levels:
| Level | What it covers | Who can provide it |
|---|---|---|
| Flying training | Flying hours for a pilot licence | Only DGCA approved flying training organisations, with aircraft and an airfield |
| Ground school | Classes for the DGCA written exams | Ground training institutes and some academies |
| Pre employment training | Cabin crew, ground staff, customer service, travel and hospitality roles | Aviation academies; this is where franchising is most common |
For an education entrepreneur, the attraction is a clear career story that students and parents understand. The risks are real too: admissions are seasonal, airline hiring goes in cycles, and an academy's reputation depends on how its students actually do in selection. Any academy that promises jobs is a warning sign. Our guide to the education franchise in India explains how to judge a training franchise.
What aviation growth means if you are evaluating an aviation training franchise
National growth tells you there is long term demand for trained people. It does not tell you how one centre in one city will do. Before you commit, work through these points:
- Which level the centre serves. Most franchise centres run pre employment courses. Ask exactly which courses your centre may run and who delivers any pilot related training.
- Local admissions. Ask how many students a centre of your size enrols in a typical year, how admissions vary by season, and which schools and colleges the brand already works with in your area.
- Student outcomes. Ask how placement support works, then speak to past students and existing centre owners to hear how selection went for them.
- Faculty and facilities. Find out who trains the trainers, and what rooms and practice setups the brand expects.
- Your full cost. Fees to the brand, fit out, rent, staff and launch marketing, plus cash to carry the centre through slow months. Our post on unit economics before ambition shows what to ask.
- The agreement. Term, renewal, territory and exit. Have a qualified lawyer review it before you sign or pay any token amount. The Franchise Insiider is not a law firm.
Our step by step guide on how to buy a franchise in India covers the full process. If you want an outside check before signing, the DB Green Flag Assessment reviews you and the brand together. It costs ₹50,000 and is charged only if you sign.
The aviation academy we work with
Aerostar Aviation Academy, founded by Dr. Sheetal Jadeja in Ahmedabad, trains students for aviation, hospitality and travel careers and is offering franchise centres, starting with Gujarat. The Franchise Insiider runs franchise enquiries for Aerostar.
Yes, The Franchise Insiider charges brands, and brands pay us. That is how franchising works everywhere. With 300+ franchises awarded, our job on each enquiry is to check fit before anyone signs.
Talk to The Franchise Insiider
If you are an education entrepreneur looking at aviation training, tell us your city and background on our enquiry form. The Franchise Insiider team will call you to talk through the Aerostar franchise and check fit before you meet the brand.
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Industry figures are from the government and news sources named in the text. Aerostar franchise details are subject to the brand's confirmation and final agreement.
FAQs
How big is the aviation industry in India?
India is the world's third largest domestic aviation market, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. DGCA data shows domestic airlines carried about 16.69 crore passengers in 2025, and India had 163 operational airports in 2025, up from 74 in 2014.
How many pilots does India need?
The Press Information Bureau says India needs 30,000 to 34,000 pilots in the next 10 to 15 years. In November 2025 the Civil Aviation Minister said India had about 8,000 pilots for 834 aircraft, with about 1,700 more aircraft on order.
Is the Indian aviation industry still growing in 2026?
Over the decade, yes: airports and passengers have grown sharply. In 2026 so far, DGCA data shows domestic traffic for January to August was about flat compared with 2025, down 0.18%. Growth comes in cycles.
What jobs are there in aviation besides pilots?
Cabin crew, airport and airline customer service, ground handling, cargo, airport operations and security, aircraft maintenance and engineering, and travel and hospitality roles linked to air travel.
Can I open an aviation academy franchise?
Yes. Aviation academies that train for cabin crew, ground staff, travel and hospitality roles often expand through franchise centres. Flying training for pilots is different and needs DGCA approval. The Franchise Insiider runs franchise enquiries for Aerostar Aviation Academy in Gujarat.
Does aviation growth mean an aviation training franchise will do well?
Not by itself. National figures show long term demand for trained people, but one centre depends on local admissions, faculty, how its students do in selection and its full running cost. Speak to existing centre owners and past students, and have a qualified lawyer review the agreement before you sign.