Patel added that the aspirations of the people has led to more connectivity within the country which is reflected by the fact that the number of airports in the country, has almost doubled from 50 in 2004 to almost 100 this year.

Patel also called upon the states to come forward and join the process in the growth of civil aviation saying the Centre alone will no more be able to cope with the tremendous growth.

He said that the states should use their infrastructure including operationalisation of the un-used airports and airstrips to bring them into the mainstream.

The aviation sector, he said, would in the next ten years bring in investments to the tune of $115-120 billion. It would become one of the top sectors for investment and also for employment generation.