05 .02 .2026
Airbus expects its aircraft fleet in India to triple by 2035
The company believes the Indian market will experience significant growth and could reach 2,250 aircraft in the next decade
Our patron Airbus anticipates unprecedented growth in the Indian aviation market, with the commercial fleet expanding to approximately 2,200–2,250 aircraft over the next decade, driven by strong passenger traffic growth, the expansion of airport infrastructure, and high demand from the country's airlines.
The company presented these forecasts, which have been widely reported in the media, during the Wings India forum held in Hyderabad. It emphasized that India is on track to become the world's third-largest aviation market, surpassing established economies and maintaining a growth rate far exceeding that of more mature regions. Currently, the country operates around 850 aircraft, but the sustained growth of the middle class and improved domestic connectivity are accelerating the need for new capacity.
Airbus highlighted that Indian airlines already have more than 1,700 aircraft on order, of which approximately 72% are models from the European manufacturer. Airbus alone has committed to deliveries of around 1,250 aircraft over the next ten years, representing an average flow of more than one hundred aircraft annually. This volume represents the largest commercial commitment the company maintains with a single country.
The projected growth will also require a significant expansion of infrastructure and associated services. The company estimates that India will need up to 35,000 new pilots and 34,000 technicians by 2035, in addition to a substantial increase in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacity, the value of which could triple to around $9.5 billion. The company is actively involved in local industrial development, with more than 7,000 components already manufactured in India and new assembly lines planned for helicopters and transport aircraft.
According to Airbus, the combination of a rapidly expanding domestic market, public investment in airports—which could increase from 150 to around 200 in the next decade—and growing demand for larger aircraft will solidify India's position as one of the strategic pillars of global aviation. The country, the company states, is in a phase of structural growth that will continue to boost its role in the global industry.
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