PM Modi Welcomes Global Aviation Leaders as India Hosts IATA AGM After Four Decades

By A Staff Reporter

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed delegates at the 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), currently being held in India for the first time in 40 years. In his keynote speech, PM Modi warmly welcomed international aviation leaders and highlighted the significant transformation India has undergone over the past four decades.

“This is being held in India after 4 decades. In these 4 decades, a lot has changed in India,” the Prime Minister remarked. He pointed out that modern India is not only a large and growing market within the global aviation ecosystem but also a symbol of policy leadership, innovation, and inclusive development.

PM Modi emphasized India's emerging role in the convergence of global space and aviation sectors, a testament to the country's rapid technological advancements and ambitious vision. “You are well aware of the historic rise of India in India’s civil aviation sector in the past one decade,” he added, referring to the sector’s unprecedented growth in passenger traffic, infrastructure expansion, and the rise of low-cost carriers.