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Hans India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
India's aviation sector storms into world's top 3 markets, creates 7.7 million jobs
New DelhiIndia Aviation, IATA, Aviation Market, Job Creation, Air Traffic, Economic Growth: India's aviation industry has expanded at a rapid pace to become the world's third-largest aviation market in terms of passenger traffic, according to a report compiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA's country director for India, Nepal and Bhutan, Amitabh Khosla, said India's rise to the third rank in the global market comes on the back of stronger airlines, growth of connectivity, and increased airport infrastructure. He described the aviadtion industry as a key driver of employment, economic activity, international trade and investment in the country. India's aviation now accounts for 1.5 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has created approximately 7.7 million jobs, both directly and indirectly, across the country, the report states. Khosla said, 'In 2023, the industry made a $53.6 billion contribution to India's economy, underpinning 7.7 million jobs in the country.' Tourism, supported by aviation, contributes Rs 2,710 crore to the GDP. International tourists add another $29.4 billion annually to the economy through local purchases of goods and services. 'Overall the travel and tourism sector accounts for 6.5 per cent of the nation's GDP and 8.9 per cent of total employment in 2023,' he added. The Middle East remained the top international destination for Indian flyers in 2023, with 13.7 million passengers, followed by the Asia Pacific region and Europe. To meet growing demand, airlines have ramped up flight frequencies and seat capacities. Scheduled flights increased by 77.7 per cent to around 1.3 million in 2024. Most of these were domestic, flights with increased from 613,000 flights in 2014 to nearly 1.1 million in 2024. Indigo led this expansion, operating 53 per cent of all departing flights from and within India. Consumers have also benefited from increased competition, which led to a 25 per cent reduction in real airfares in 2023 compared to 2011, Khosla noted. Currently, India has 116 airports offering commercial scheduled services, with 96 of them providing direct connections and 521 outbound international flights each day. Over the last five years, 103 new international routes have been introduced. There are currently 99 operational airlines in the country. India has also established itself as the sixth-largest air cargo market in the world, transporting 3.3 million tonnes of air freight in 2023. As of December 2024, the international sector stood nearly 20 per cent above its 2019 levels, while domestic operations were over 8 per cent higher which reflects the strong outlook for the future, he added.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Aviation industry accounts for 1.5 per cent of India's GDP, creates 7.7 million jobs
NEW DELHI: The Indian aviation industry, now the third-largest aviation market globally, contributes a significant USD 53.6 billion annually to the national economy, accounting for 1.5% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector is also a key employment generator, creating approximately 7.7 million jobs both directly and indirectly across the country. During the opening day of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting on Sunday, Amitabh Khosla, IATA's country Director for India, Nepal, and Bhutan, said the crucial role aviation plays in the nation's economic growth. He described the industry as a major driver of employment, economic activity, international trade, investment, and global connectivity. Khosla highlighted the correlation between a country's air connectivity and competitiveness, productivity, investment levels, tourism, and trade flow. 'In 2023, the industry annually generated a USD 53.6 billion contribution to India's economy, underpinning 7.7 million jobs in the country,' he said. Tourism, supported by aviation, contributes Rs 27.1 billion to the GDP and employs 5 million people. International tourists add another USD 29.4 billion annually to the economy through local purchases of goods and services. 'Overall the travel and tourism sector accounts for 6.5% of the nation's GDP and 8.9% of total employment in 2023,' Khosla stated. Khosla also pointed out that India has shown a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the domestic aviation market rebounded more quickly, the international segment has now surpassed pre-pandemic levels. As of December 2024, the international sector stood nearly 20% above its 2019 levels, while domestic operations were over 8% higher. 'Such a positive recovery reaffirms the strong demand for international travel and provides a firm foundation for the period ahead,' he said. The Middle East remained the top international destination for Indian flyers in 2023, with 13.7 million passengers, followed by the Asia Pacific region and Europe. To meet growing demand, airlines have ramped up flight frequencies and seat capacities. Scheduled flights increased by 77.7%, reaching about 1.3 million in 2024. Most of these were domestic, which surged from 613,000 flights in 2014 to nearly 1.1 million in 2024. Indigo led this expansion, operating 53% of all departing flights from and within India. Consumers have also benefited from increased competition, which led to a 25% reduction in real airfares in 2023 compared to 2011, Khosla noted. Currently, India has 116 airports offering commercial scheduled services, with 96 of them providing direct connections and 521 outbound international flights each day. Over the last five years, 103 new international routes have been introduced. There are currently 99 operational airlines in the country. India has also established itself as the sixth-largest air cargo market in the world, transporting 3.3 million tonnes of air freight in 2023. Khosla added that the country holds significant potential for the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
These UK scientists are ‘growing colour' using nature's DNA codes
From the vivid red of a parrot's feather to the dreamy blues and purples of Indigo plants, nature is a riot of colour. It has a spectrum to satisfy even the most fashion-forward of humans, so what if there were a way to naturally copy all of these hues? That's precisely what UK-based company Colorifix is working on: a fabric-dyeing process that uses the DNA codes for colours found in nature and teaches microbes to recreate them. Founders Orr Yarkoni and Jim Ajioka were motivated by a research trip to Nepal in 2013, where they saw the toxic impact of chemically synthesised dyes on Kathmandu's rivers. A decade later, Colorfix won recognition as a 2023 finalist for The Earthshot Prize - the global environmental award created by Britain's Prince William. We caught up with the company to find out more about the waste-cutting solution and what they've achieved since stepping into the global spotlight. Before the 19th century, fabric dyes were derived from natural plants and crops, and colourful clothing was considered a luxury. Colorifix is 'bringing the fashion industry back to its roots', in the words of CEO Yarkoni - but with a 21st century set of tools to unlock new pigments. It begins by identifying an interesting colour created naturally by an animal, plant or microbe. By searching public databases, scientists find the 'instructions' for making that colour in the organism's DNA code. They then insert that code into bioengineered microbes like yeast, which are fed with sugar and nitrogen in bioreactors, similar to the way beer is brewed. Over time, these 'microscopic colour factories' can create hundreds to thousands of litres of dye. Finally, the contents of the fermentor are pumped into standard dye machines along with the yarn, fabric, or garment to be dyed. 'Support from The Earthshot Prize not only validates the impact of our solution but also connects us with the network needed for this crucial next phase,' says Andreas Andren, head of business development at Colorifix. Finalists - there are 15 each year, across five categories - join the Prize's 12-month accelerator programme, which includes connections to investors and help to overcome hurdles. 'Biotech is great, but overall expensive to run and scale,' explains Andren. 'Part of the innovation we had to put into play was hardware to make biotechnology scaling competitive with commodity chemical manufacturing. 'Having to solve that problem on top of developing our core technology - the actual dyeing - was definitely the biggest challenge.' Colorfix's solution makes for an interesting intellectual property (IP) case. Patenting organisms that have been recreated using DNA technology is tricky, so the company has instead patented its process of producing, depositing and fixing dye on fabric. 'To reap all the benefits of our technology, such as flexibility and cost parity, a dye house will need to install our proprietary bioreactors on-site,' Andren says. Is the company coming up against incumbents in the industry? 'We are getting more attention from synthetic chemical manufacturers,' he says. 'Some good, some not so good; but the fact that they are starting to pay attention is definitely a sign we are on the right track.' Colorifix has operational capacity in Europe and South America - spread out across several manufacturers - and is aiming to be operational in South Asia within a year. It has partnered with fashion brands like Pangaia and Vollebak to bring products dyed with its technology to market and start increasing demand for sustainable dyes throughout the supply chain. There are other 'big names in the pipeline,' says Andren - but the company is keeping its cards close to its chest for now. The same goes for the new colours it is cooking up. However, he reveals, they successfully dyed greens and oranges during the first part of the year. And the team are extending their application to new materials, including Spiber, made of spider silk protein, and Circulose, an alternative cellulose pulp. New colours will join Colorifix's primary palette of three pigments: one detected in Indigo plants; another, Blushing Rose, made by underwater bacteria; and a third bacteria-born pigment found in soil and deep-sea sediments, named Sunlit Sand. Colouring our clothes with these natural dyes would represent huge progress for an industry that is currently polluting and colouring nature - like Tanzania's Msimbazi River - with chemicals. Colorifix's natural dyes cut chemical pollution by 80 per cent and, when applied to fabrics, they require far fewer rinses than synthetic dyes, ultimately saving vast quantities of water. Tajikistan is home to nearly 14,000 glaciers, but more than a thousand have already disappeared. The country has the largest number of glaciers in Central Asia and sits at the epicentre of regional glacier melt. As the impact grows, Tajikistan is leading the call for action and bringing the issue to the global stage. On the side-lines of the first high-level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon proposed launching a major study of the country's glaciers and creating a regional research lab. He also suggested focusing research efforts on the Vanch Yakh Glacier, formerly known as Fedchenko. It is the world's largest continental glacier and has already retreated by more than one kilometre over the past 80 years. "Considering the fact that more than 60% of the region's glaciers are located in Tajikistan, I propose, in collaboration with development partners and research institutes, to organise a comprehensive expedition to study the glaciers of Tajikistan and establish a regional laboratory for glacier research," the president said. The International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation gathered more than 2,000 people from more than 80 countries. Among the high-profile guests were UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Iran's First Vice President Mohammed Reza Arif, Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shabaz Sharif and other international leaders. The event marks an important step toward putting the UN's 2025 International Year of Glacier Preservation into action.
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Deccan Herald
Cultural roots of colours script fashion narratives
In recent years, Indian colours have begun to make a powerful impact on global design and fashion landscapes. Once considered too vibrant or culturally specific for mainstream international tastes, colours such as Rani Pink, Turmeric Yellow and deep Indigo are now making appearances across global runways, high-end fashion collections and design forecasts. This shift isn't just about aesthetics - it's about the growing recognition of India's cultural richness, emotional depth and symbolic storytelling embedded in in Indian culture is not just visual - it is deeply philosophical, symbolic and emotional. From the traditional festival of Holi to wedding ceremonies and spiritual rituals, colours have long played a central role in India's expression of identity and emotion. The concept of Navarasa, or the nine human emotions, has shaped Indian art, dance and performance for Centuries, and each rasa (emotion) is often associated with specific colours. These associations are not arbitrary - they form a language of emotion that connects directly with people, giving Indian colour palettes a uniquely emotional is this emotional depth that global designers and colour forecasters are now embracing. As consumers worldwide look for more meaning and authenticity in their fashion and lifestyle choices, Indian colours offer more than just surface beauty - they carry history, narrative and cultural Fernandez sizzles in body-hugging seafoam gown, pics break the Pink, for instance, is not just a bold hue. It represents celebration, royalty and feminine power in India. The name itself – 'Rani', meaning queen - evokes a sense of grandeur. Now, this colour is seen gracing international runways, not just as a statement but as an embodiment of confidence and cultural Turmeric Yellow, inspired by the golden spice used widely in Indian households and rituals, is emerging as a global favourite. It symbolises health, happiness and purity in Indian tradition. Beyond its visual appeal, the colour connects deeply with ideas of wellness and positivity, aligning perfectly with contemporary global values of mindfulness and holistic living. Turmeric Yellow has found a place in everything from high fashion collections to interior decor and branding palettes, thanks to its vibrant, yet grounded, notable influence is the widespread use of earth tones in Indian textiles and traditional clothing. India's long history of natural dyeing - using ingredients like indigo leaves, madder root and turmeric - has given rise to a palette of earthy, muted tones that resonate with the global move towards sustainability and organic living. Hues such as deep brown, rust red and moss green are now being featured in minimalist Scandinavian-inspired interiors, artisanal fashion collections and eco-conscious packaging design, showing that Indian aesthetics are seamlessly merging with global growing presence of Indian colours in global trends points to a much larger cultural moment - the world is finally embracing diverse aesthetic traditions as valuable and influential. Rather than treating non-Western colour palettes as niche or exotic, the design world is beginning to understand their depth and relevance. This cultural exchange is not just enriching design, it's also reshaping it to be more inclusive and globally the visual, Indian colours also offer designers tools for emotional storytelling. When designers choose Rani Pink or Sindhoor Red, they're not just choosing a pretty shade, they're invoking love, power, femininity or divinity. This ability to communicate emotion through colours is what makes Indian hues especially powerful in an age where storytelling is at the heart of branding and colours are not just influencing global design, they're expanding the definition of what is considered luxurious, expressive and modern. As designers and brands continue to look beyond traditional Western palettes for inspiration, the vibrant, symbolic and emotionally-rich colours of India are offering a new language of design - one that celebrates culture, diversity and connection. The future of global colour trends is brighter, bolder and unmistakably more Jiten Agarwal
Malaysia Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
DGCA allows Indigo to extend aircraft lease agreement with Turkish Airlines for 3 months
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Indigo has been granted a one-time last and final extension of three months up to August 2025 for the 'damp-leased' aircraft from Turkish Airlines, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Friday. Indigo is operating two B777-300ER aircraft under a 'damp lease' from Turkish Airlines, which was permitted till May 31, 2025. Indigo had requested a further six-month extension, which the regulator did not agree to. 'However, in order to avoid passenger inconvenience due to immediate flight disruption, Indigo has been granted a one-time last and final extension of three months,' the DGCA said. 'This extension is based on the undertaking from the airline that they will terminate the damp lease with Turkish Airlines within this extension period, and shall not seek any further extension for these operations,' the DGCA added. With one new aircraft joining the fleet every week throughout 2025-26, IndiGo anticipates surpassing a fleet size of 600 aircraft by 2030, the airline said on the network expansion front. Additionally, the airline has signed an agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for the damp lease of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Deliveries will be completed by early 2026, and the A350S are anticipated to arrive in 2027. These additional aircraft strengthen the airline's long-haul capabilities. 2025-26 will also be the year in which the long-range A321XLR joins IndiGo's fleet, opening doors to new long-range international markets not previously connected directly to India. Continuing IndiGo's strategy of internationalisation, the airline is planning to add an impressive 10 new international destinations-in all directions from India- to its route network in the year to come, bringing it to over 50 international destinations. It has already announced commencement of long-haul operations with non-stop, direct flights connecting Mumbai with Manchester and Amsterdam starting July 2025, respectively. As IndiGo's fleet of damp leased B787s expands later this year, the airline is planning to expand its long-haul network to London and Copenhagen. With the extended range capabilities of the A321XLR aircraft joining the IndiGo fleet, will allow to further build its European network with direct connectivity to markets where Athens is planned to be introduced over the course of the coming year. The airline will continue to build on its strong regional international network, with four more Central Asian destinations being added. The airline will also re-activate services to Almaty and Tashkent with new non-stop services from Mumbai. Tbilisi will also see additional capacity with non-stop connectivity from Mumbai. Direct flights to Siem Reap will be IndiGo's foray in the India - Cambodia market, and yet another destination connected in Southeast Asia after the successful launch of services to Langkawi, Penang and Krabi last year. The airline will also add capacity to Denpasar Bali (Indonesia) as well as Ho Chi Mihn City and Hanoi in Vietnam. In the domestic market, IndiGo plans to add four more stations to its network, increasing it from 91 to 95 destinations to literally every corner of the nation. IndiGo is all set to become the first airline to start operations at the Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport in Jewar (serving both the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi catchment area). In addition, IndiGo will launch flights to/from Adampur Airport in Jalandhar on July 1, 2025, and Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad in due course. (ANI)
