India's Aircraft Fleet to Triple by 2035, Becoming World's 3rd Largest Market

This fleet expansion is driven by both the Indian aviation market boom and Indian airlines' ambition to expand on international routes.

Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad, Jurgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia, said, "We are witnessing the centre of global aviation shift toward the east. India's fleet expansion will not only enhance domestic mobility but will position the country as a dominant hub for international transit. Therefore, the next chapter of Indian aviation must ensure its operating models evolve at the same pace as the expansion in its fleet and network."

This three-fold increase in aircraft over 100 seats from the 2025 fleet levels marks one of the most aggressive expansions in global aviation history. The requirement for aircraft will be driven by a unique blend of the fastest economic growth among G20 nations, deeper government spending on infrastructure and a fundamental shift in Indian consumer behaviour, with per capita air travel rising from 0.13 to 0.29 over the next decade, the aircraft manufacturer said.

As a result, passenger traffic in India will grow at 8.9 per cent per annum by 2035, the fastest among the major economies and well above the long term global average.

To keep this scaled-up fleet airborne, the requirement of pilots is set to surge to 35,000 by 2035, up from the current 12,000, while the technical workforce must grow to 34,000, tripling the current strength of 11,000, Airbus said.

"Airbus is uniquely placed to support this growth with the A320 Family for domestic expansion and the A321XLR and A350 to lead India's medium-to-long-haul international ambitions," Westermeier said.

As the fleet triples, India will rapidly pivot to become a hub for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. The market for airframes, engines and components is set to triple to US$9.5 billion by 2035, it said.

- ANI