India: Airport breaks world record for number of flights in 24 hours

Rising incomes and cheaper fares offered by budget carriers are fuelling air travel in India, an aviation market set to be the third biggest behind China and the US. In signs traffic is surging, Mumbai Friday handled 969 flights in a 24-hour period, a world record for an airport that operates only one runway at any given point of time, the Times of India reported Sunday, citing an official at the Mumbai International Airport Ltd. The aim is to reach 1,000 aircraft movements, the official told the newspaper. Indian carriers flew about 100m domestic passengers last year, and the International Air Transport Association estimates the market will add about 337m more in the next two decades. About 97% of India’s 1.3b people have never been on an airplane, according to low-cost airline SpiceJet Ltd., indicating the potential for growth in traffic.<br/>