The Indian civilian aviation market offers tremendous opportunities in sustainability, yet it is confronted with myriad challenges. As the country seeks to improve its air travel segment, it must work towards ensuring sustainability at the core to counter international environmental concerns and make the sector future-ready. India is expanding the number of airports and the country’s airlines are placing orders for more than 1,700 new aircrafts. Without sustainability at the core of this growth, the sector would struggle to align with the international standards and best practices.

One of the key issues is the use and consumption of fuels. and The Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) is considered one of the biggest operational expenditures for airlines, and the fuel consumption alone accounts for a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, there was a hope that the budget would focus on expanding the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as it is produced from renewable sources and can significantly reduce emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. The growth of Indian Aviation will need the stimulus of financial incentives or tax breaks to airlines that adopt SAF, as well as incentivizing research into domestic SAF production. This would reduce reliance on imports and foster green innovation within the country.

The other area that promises to be sustainable is the development of electric and hybrid aircraft. Although this technology is still nascent, India can lead the way in designing and developing small, electric aircraft for short haul regional travel. This can supplement the government’s short-haul regional air services scheme UDAN by mitigating some of the negative effects of air pollution in the environment and, at the same time, encouraging air travel in short haul flights at regional airports.

In addition, the airport’s infrastructure itself can be developed and designed with features that are sustainable. Airports are energy heavy establishments, and installing solar panels, conserving water, improving effectiveness in waste management, and sustainable construction can significantly reduce their carbon footprint. For instance, some major airports like Delhi and Bengaluru have already begun implementing solar power solutions, which can be expanded upon with government support in the future plans. The budget must do more to encourage the aviation industry to prioritize green building certifications and energy-efficient technologies in new airport developments as another way to move toward sustainability.

Carbon offset programs take measures to lessen carbon impacts, and this can help with the ecological effects of flying. For example, airports can allow travelers to volunteer for carbon reduction by planting trees, establishing renewable energy sources, or aiding in development projects. Even though this is not a complete solution, it will work as a short term answer until better sustainable methods are implemented.

On a wider scope, policies and laws related to carbon emissions will have to change so that sustainability is at the forefront. The government should adopt stringent and actionable policies for emission reductions akin to what is practiced in the many other countries, which includes tax exemptions or subsidies for greener initiatives. It can also work with global institutions to implement effective carbon pricing strategies that compel airlines to account for their emissions.

The aviation industry’s skyrocketing growth in India does have its challenges regarding sustainability at the same time, increasing emissions through expanding air travel is a problem that needs careful attention. Nonetheless, in this budget and the policies in future the government is aimed at making India a leader in sustainable aviation through supporting alternatives, increasing investment in R&D, and implementing much needed regulatory changes.