India officially takes over as host of Routes Asia 2027 at Xi’an, China

New Delhi: India formally assumed the hosting rights for the 23^rd edition of Routes Asia on Thursday at the closing ceremony of Routes Asia 2026 in Xi’an, China, marking a significant milestone for the country’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.

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The hosting responsibilities have been handed over by China West Airport Group to Vipin Kumar, Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), during a dedicated networking session organised by India on the sidelines of the event.

Routes Asia 2026 witnessed participation from over 1,500 delegates, including representatives from 165 airports, 125 airlines and 35 tourism and government bodies across the Asia-Pacific region, facilitating strategic engagements aimed at enhancing regional and international air connectivity.

According to an official statement, India will host Routes Asia 2027 in New Delhi from March 16 to 18, 2027, at Bharat Mandapam. The upcoming edition is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates, including key decision-makers from global airlines, airports and tourism authorities.

The announcement builds on an earlier declaration made in September 2025 confirming that AAI will host the prestigious aviation forum in India for the first time. The event is expected to serve as a strategic platform for fostering partnerships, strengthening air connectivity and exploring new route development opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

India’s aviation sector has been witnessing robust growth, driven by increasing passenger demand, large-scale infrastructure development and policy initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The sector’s expansion has been supported under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, with a focus on enhancing connectivity and strengthening the aviation ecosystem.

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At present, India is served by more than 80 domestic and international carriers and has 165 operational airports, with continued expansion into tier II and tier III cities. This growth is positioning the country as a key aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hosting Routes Asia 2027 is expected to play a crucial role in revitalising regional air route networks, facilitating new travel corridors linking Asia with Europe, North America and other regions, and supporting the long-term development of the aviation sector. The event will also showcase India’s infrastructure capabilities and its vision of strengthening global connectivity while promoting economic growth.

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