Bangalore, Apr 10 (IANS): There has been a 20 percent surge in air travel in India since the global economic downturn began in late 2008, Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya said Saturday.

"The civil aviation industry which was impacted to a great extent by global meltdown in 2008-09 has seen a revival, a resurgence post that period, with the passenger traffic increasing by 20 per cent" Mallya said at a function organised here by the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI).

Mallya, who is also the AeSI president, also felt the need to have more Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) centres across the country as airlines in India have no other option but to take their aircraft to other countries for servicing.

He called for setting up a National Aeronautics Commission and to bring all research and development in aeronautics under one roof. "A proposal in this regard has already been submitted to the government but the project has not taken off yet. This needs to be pursued", he added.

Mallya also called for greater coordination between the government and the private sector to create better infrastructure for the sector and address input costs, regulations and high taxation the industry faces.

Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said flying clubs around the country be revived so that more trained pilots could be turned out.