Air traffic in India is experiencing significant growth, despite a small percentage of the population flying annually. Manufacturers are actively pursuing lucrative opportunities at the Aero India exhibition starting Monday. Additionally, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will hold its annual general meeting in June in New Delhi, highlighting India’s importance in the global market. The country’s robust economic growth and expanding middle class have positioned India as the third-largest air market worldwide, following the United States and China.
“India is the rising star of global aerospace,” stated Remi Maillard, head of Airbus India and South Asia. “It is the fastest-growing commercial aviation market globally and is expected to maintain this trajectory for the next two decades.” Boeing, a competitor of Airbus, shares this enthusiasm. “It’s the most dynamic market on the planet and certainly the most exciting,” remarked Salil Gupte, head of Boeing India.
India’s civil aviation ministry describes the sector as “experiencing a meteoric rise,” with projections indicating a traffic increase in South Asia, primarily in India, of over seven percent annually until 2043, according to Boeing’s forecasts. Maillard noted that per capita air travel in India is low at just 0.12, compared to 0.46 in China, underscoring the potential for growth in the Indian aviation market. While rail travel remains popular, it is often slow and chaotic in a country roughly three-quarters the size of the European Union. Boeing estimates that converting just two percent of the 18 million daily train users to air travel could double the air market.
Since taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized the development of the aviation sector. He aims to “bring air travel to the common people” and initiated a plan in 2016 to enhance air connectivity between smaller towns and major cities. Modi expressed his vision, stating, “A common man who travels in slippers should also be seen in the aircraft.” The number of airports has more than doubled in the last decade, increasing from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with plans to reach between 350 and 400 by 2047, the centenary of India’s independence. The government is also investing in training approximately 30,000 pilots and an equal number of mechanics over the next 20 years, with Airbus and Boeing playing key roles in this initiative, particularly in promoting women’s participation.
Major manufacturers believe that the next significant advancement in India’s airline sector will be in international travel.
