Between January and November 2024, Indian and foreign airlines carried 64.5 million passengers on international routes. This is a big hike of 11.4% from the 58 million travellers recorded in the same period in 2023, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. That's a lot of boarding passes!

Of these international flyers, Indian airlines served 29.8 million passengers, while foreign airlines managed 34.7 million. Shows good teamwork, don't you think?

In India, in this period, airlines flew 1.02 million flights carrying an enormous 146.4 million passengers. These numbers are indeed up from 138.2 million passengers carried on 0.97 million flights in 2023, the DGCA noted. The numbers are steady; these are remarkable figures. "The number of domestic passengers flown by scheduled Indian airlines went up by 5.9% in 2024 compared to last year," the ministry said. 

A new record was set on November 17, 2024, when domestic air passenger traffic reached over 500,000 in one day for the first time. That's half a million people in the air on one day-just think about the careful planning needed for that success! The Indian aviation sector started progressing because of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024, which superseded the antiquated Aircraft Act of 1934.

This act came into effect on January 1. It's main objective is to modernize the industry on par with international standards, support local manufacturing under 'Make in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat, and simplify rules like licensing.

The government has inaugurated new airport terminals in Varanasi, Agra, Darbhanga, and Bagdogra in 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thrown open new airports in Sarsawa, Rewa, and Ambikapur for the rest of the country to connect. They have sanctioned as many as 21 new airports. This is bound to increase the frequency of air travel.

The aviation industry is also working towards gender diversity. The government has asked for 25% women in the sector by 2025. Hopefully, we'll see more of them achieving great things, both in the air and in life.

Other than that, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has also been promoting green energy at airports to reduce carbon footprints. By 2024, 80 airports have switched to 100% green energy, with 12 of them doing so last year alone. Cleaner skies and cleaner airports mean benefits for everyone!

India's aviation sector is achieving new heights as one can see by record-breaking passenger numbers, policy reforms and a solid commitment to greener future. Achieving these impressive numbers is no mean feat and shows the government's dedication towards making India a powerhouse in the global aviation sector.