New Delhi (Agency): Boeing, the American aircraft maker, is expressing strong optimism about the future of India’s aviation sector. Salil Gupte, Boeing India President, recently stated in an interview that they “see no slowdown” in India’s booming aviation industry. Several factors such as high demand, profitability among airlines, and new infrastructure make him optimistic.
“Overall, we see that demand grows,” Gupte said. New terminals and greenfield airports are under construction, which “is going to be a boon to Indian aviation.” Gupte mentioned that Indian carriers have around 1,500 planes on order. Earlier this year, Air India alone placed an order for 470 aircraft, 220 of which are from Boeing.
According to Gupte, more than 2,200 aircraft will be needed by Indian carriers in the next two decades. To meet this soaring demand, he emphasized the need for skilled pilots and mechanics. Boeing has already committed to investing USD 100 million in pilot training programs in India. The company also plans to form maintenance training partnerships to ensure enough skilled mechanics are available.
“One reason why Boeing has announced a USD 100 million investment in pilot training is to ensure that we are doing our part to skill those pilots,” Gupte explained.
Fuel tax rationalization is another crucial area that Gupte believes needs attention. “The cost of fuel for Indian airlines is far higher than many airlines outside India,” he stated. Therefore, he urges that progress must continue, especially in larger states, to bring the rate of taxation on jet fuel closer to global levels.
Credit rating agency Icra projects further growth in India’s domestic air passenger traffic. After a quick recovery in FY2023, it expects an 8-13% increase in traffic, reaching up to 155 million passengers in the current financial year.
The Boeing India President also touched on supply chain issues affecting the global aviation sector. He noted that the situation is “certainly healing” and improving, which is a good sign for India’s ambitious aviation plans.