India, Sweden In Discussion Over Electric Airplanes, Aviation Industry's Future

Sweden's Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson, was on a two-day visit to India to discuss bilateral trade relations, sustainability, and aviation between India and Sweden.

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India and Sweden on Friday discussed how the two countries can learn from each other and work on the further development of the aviation sector. The discussions were led by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh and Sweden's Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson.

Carlson, in a meeting with Singh on Friday, said: "When India plans investments in infrastructure and aviation, it also needs smaller aeroplanes. They work very hard on it in Sweden." 

He further said: "We see those electric aeroplanes in the developing phase right now, but they will be in the market in just five years. You can have electric flights for domestic shorter short-haul flights from the beginning. They can have a range of 800 kilometres with the 25 passengers combined with electric electricity and biofuel." 

Both countries can work together to find ways forward, he noted. Carlson on Friday noted that the aviation sector has always been an enabler of economic development, job creation, and connectivity. It contributes to both social and economic cohesion and is the major facilitator of global trade.

Carlson was on a two-day visit to India to discuss bilateral trade relations, sustainability, and aviation between India and Sweden. 

Carlson and Singh discussed how the two countries can cooperate on air traffic management, airspace design, and ways to reduce carbon footprints, lower emissions, and also strengthen competitiveness and higher productivity. 

Carlson said India is, by far, a larger country, and Sweden is one of the EU's wide-distance countries. However, both countries have some similar challenges when it comes to connectivity in rural areas, he noted. 

"We discussed ways to promote aviation in a sustainable way and in a way which reduces emissions and carbon footprints. We have common goals, and India is significantly investing in building new airports and increasing their capacity. We are interested in learning from each other, sharing best practices, and engaging in discussion on an EU level and best practices and engage in discussion on an EU level and on cooperation between the EU and India," he said.