In an exclusive interview with ET TravelWorld, Edgar Vesga, MPR, CMI, Director of Air Service Development and Cargo Services at Philadelphia International Airport delved into the airport’s recent growth trends, connectivity with India, and sustainability measures, shedding light on the strategies driving Philadelphia‘s aviation landscape.
Vesga highlighted Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) robust performance in 2023, recording a total passenger volume of 28.1 million, marking a significant 12.6 per cent increase from the previous year. Looking ahead to 2024, Vesga expressed optimism about the addition of four new international destinations served by American Airlines and numerous domestic routes by various carriers, reflecting the airport’s ongoing growth trajectory.
Connectivity with India
Addressing the growing ties between India and Philadelphia, Vesga emphasised the airport’s connectivity with India, underscoring the significant influx of passengers between Philadelphia’s catchment area and India. He noted that while over 190,000 passengers travelled between the two regions in 2023, only 34 per cent utilised PHL’s services. Vesga attributed Philadelphia’s appeal to the Indian market to its prominence in education and medicine, attracting a substantial number of international students and visitors.
“Philadelphia is considered the city of education and medicine, attracting a large number of international students from India and other countries,” he said.
Strategies for enhanced connectivity
Despite the absence of direct flights between Philadelphia and key Indian cities, Vesga outlined the airport’s strategic approach to enhance connectivity. Leveraging major connecting points like Doha, London, and Frankfurt, PHL aims to facilitate seamless travel for passengers bound to Indian destinations. Additionally, Vesga highlighted the airport’s incentives program designed to encourage airlines to establish routes to unserved and underserved destinations, including India.
“India is Philadelphia’s 3rd largest market for direct visitor spending and has consistently ranked in the top five markets for spend since data tracking began in 2000. Visitation from India was expected to increase by 26.4 per cent over the next five years (pre-Covid estimate).
There were 66,422 Total Annual O&D passengers (or 91 passengers daily each way – PDEW) flying out of PHL to/from India for the year ending October 2023. Close to 70 per cent of these passengers originated in Philadelphia while the remaining 30 per cent originated their trip in India,” Vesga said while sharing the information.
Under this program, tourists can obtain a visa within two to five working days, allowing them to stay in Dubai for up to 90 days, extendable once for a similar period, with a maximum stay of 180 days within a year. This flexible visa option caters to both leisure and business travelers, offering unparalleled convenience and connectivity.
Future initiatives and sustainability measures
Looking ahead, Vesga discussed the projected timeline for initiatives aimed at developing the Indian market, emphasising proactive collaborations with Indian partners and local communities to gather insights and support additional routes.
On the sustainability front, he outlined Philadelphia Airport‘s commitment to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and Zero Waste by 2035, detailing various initiatives such as emissions tracking, electrification of ground support equipment, and sustainable design requirements for capital projects.
Marketing campaigns and trade incentives
Regarding marketing campaigns tailored to Indian travellers, Vesga highlighted the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau‘s efforts to welcome media outlets and influencers to Philadelphia, aiming to position the city as a top destination. Furthermore, he discussed PHL’s Air Service Incentive Program, which offers waivers on landing fees and inclusion in destination marketing efforts to encourage new market development and expansion.
“We are also leveraging our incentives to encourage airlines to help us connect Philadelphians to the world. This program does support efforts to develop routes to unserved and underserved destinations at the domestic and international level like India,” he stated.
Philadelphia International Airport’s commitment to fostering growth, enhancing connectivity, and prioritising sustainability, underscoring the airport’s pivotal role in facilitating seamless travel experiences and promoting economic development in the region.
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In a significant advancement for India‘s aerospace industry, Airbus Helicopters has forged a partnership with Tata Group to inaugurate the country’s maiden Final Assembly Line (FAL) for helicopters. This initiative underscores a major stride towards the ‘Make in India’ initiative, aiming for self-reliance in manufacturing, as Airbus Helicopters commits to produce its best-selling H125 helicopter in India for both domestic and international markets.The establishment of the FAL marks a historic milestone as it will be the first instance of the private sector initiating a helicopter manufacturing facility in India. The collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a subsidiary of Tata Group, and Airbus Helicopters exemplifies a strategic alliance aimed at bolstering India’s aerospace capabilities.
Announced during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations, the FAL will be pivotal in the integration of major component assemblies, avionics, and mission systems. It will also facilitate testing, qualification, and delivery of the H125 helicopters to customers in India and the neighboring region. The commencement of operations at the FAL is expected in 2026, with the location to be jointly determined by Airbus and the Tata Group.
Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, expressed confidence in the venture, emphasising its significance in enhancing India’s aerospace ecosystem. He highlighted the FAL as Airbus’ second manufacturing facility in India after the C295 military aircraft facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, lauded the collaboration, noting the facility’s potential to revolutionize the aviation sector in India and beyond.
The H125 helicopter, renowned for its versatility and performance, is poised to become a cornerstone in various sectors, including emergency medical services, disaster management, law enforcement, and tourism. It will play a pivotal role in the Government of India’s regional connectivity scheme – Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), facilitating last-mile connectivity to remote areas and bolstering the tourism sector.
The H125, part of Airbus’ Ecureuil family, has amassed over 38 million flight hours globally and has demonstrated exceptional capabilities, including landing on Mount Everest.
The collaboration between Airbus and Tata Group signifies a strategic alliance aimed at fostering India’s aerospace industry and aligns with Airbus’ broader vision of nurturing a comprehensive aerospace ecosystem in the country.
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