The Ministry of Civil Aviation organised the North East Region Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation 2025 and the 3rd North East Aviation Summit in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. The event brought together key leaders including Shri Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, as Chief Guest, and Shri Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, as Guest of Honour. Senior ministers from Mizoram, Sikkim, and Assam also participated, reflecting the collective importance given to aviation-led development in the region.

In his inaugural address, Shri Pema Khandu highlighted the critical role of transportation connectivity in driving growth in the North East. He noted that in the last decade, the region has witnessed unprecedented progress in aviation infrastructure. With schemes like UDAN, long-cherished dreams of Arunachal Pradesh residents to have their own airports have been fulfilled, transforming the socio-economic landscape of the state and the broader region.

Union Minister Shri Rammohan Naidu stressed the importance of strengthening Centre-State-Industry partnerships to accelerate aviation growth. He emphasised that enhanced connectivity is vital for border access, tourism promotion, cargo movement, and industrial development. The Minister urged states to expand tourism infrastructure and skilling programs to complement aviation growth, noting that employment opportunities for youth must be prioritised alongside infrastructure expansion.

The Minister shared that operational airports in the region have increased from nine in 2014 to sixteen at present. Aircraft movements have nearly doubled, while domestic passenger traffic has tripled. To support further expansion, the Centre will offer four pre-feasibility studies annually for new Greenfield airports at no cost, enabling states to plan their aviation projects without financial constraints.

During discussions, state leaders highlighted how aviation connectivity will strengthen tourism, trade, healthcare, emergency services, and entrepreneurship. They underscored the role of new airports, heliports, and cargo facilities in reducing travel time, boosting exports of local products, and attracting investments. Industry players, including airlines, OEMs, MROs, cargo operators, and drone companies, engaged in dialogues to identify investment opportunities and address implementation challenges.

Looking ahead, the Ministry announced its flagship event Wings India 2026, scheduled from 28–31 January 2026. Organized with AAI and FICCI, the event will serve as a global platform to showcase India’s aviation growth story, promote policy dialogue, and foster international partnerships. With these initiatives, civil aviation is set to become a transformative enabler of Viksit Bharat @2047, giving new wings to North East India’s aspirations.