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aircraft leasing India

New Delhi, India: India’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector is set for sustained growth, with the market expected to reach $5.7 billion by 2030, up from an estimated $4.4 billion in 2025, according to a study report by Alan Lim and Joshua Ng, Directors of Singapore-based Alton Aviation Consultancy and aviation industry veterans. The report estimates a compound annual growth rate of about 5.4 percent, supported by rapid fleet expansion, increasing passenger traffic, and ongoing policy support aimed at strengthening the country’s aviation ecosystem. India’s commercial aircraft fleet is projected to expand significantly, crossing 1,800 aircraft by 2030. The growth will be led by narrow-body aircraft, which are expected to nearly double in number from over 700 currently to more than 1,300 within the decade. Beyond MRO growth, India is advancing a broader aerospace ecosystem to sustain long-term aviation expansion. “The government has set ambitious targets to expand domestic passenger traffic, increase the number of operational airports, and strengthen workforce and manufacturing capabilities, supported by large scale investments in airport infrastructure and new greenfield developments,” said Lim. Ng added, “Special economic zones, including GIFT City, are being positioned to anchor aircraft leasing.” Airlines in India have also placed substantial aircraft orders, with over 500 deliveries expected in the next five years, indicating a steady rise in maintenance demand across the aviation value chain. India’s airport infrastructure expansion continues to gather pace, with Navi Mumbai International Airport already operational since December 2025 and Noida International Airport set to begin operations in 2026, offering initial capacities of 12 million and 20 million passengers annually, respectively. Further capacity additions are underway with Dholera International Airport, targeted for completion by December 2026, and Bhogapuram International Airport, expected by June 2026, backed by significant planned investments. The study highlights that engine maintenance will contribute nearly half of the total MRO demand, making it the dominant segment in the market. At the same time, airframe maintenance and modification services are expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Global and domestic players are accelerating investments in India’s MRO ecosystem. Safran has inaugurated a €200 million LEAP engine MRO facility in Hyderabad to strengthen next-generation engine overhaul capabilities. IndiGo, in collaboration with Bengaluru International Airport, has also begun developing a dedicated MRO facility to support its growing fleet. Meanwhile, Thales has expanded its presence with a new avionics MRO facility, while the Adani Group has strengthened its position in the sector through the acquisitions of Air Works and AAR-Indamer Technics. Higher aircraft utilisation and increased flight frequencies are likely to drive more frequent maintenance cycles, particularly for engines and structural components. The government’s ongoing push to expand aviation infrastructure is expected to play a critical role in supporting the sector. Plans to develop over 100 additional airports in the coming years are set to take the total number of airports in India to more than 200 by 2030. This expansion, along with improved regional connectivity and continued growth of low-cost carriers, is expected to sustain long-term demand for MRO services. The report notes that recent policy measures including tax rationalisation, liberalised foreign investment norms, and initiatives to strengthen aircraft leasing and financing are improving the overall operating environment for MRO providers in India. These reforms are aimed at enhancing cost competitiveness and encouraging global players to establish or expand their MRO operations in the country, while reducing dependence on overseas facilities.

India’s MRO Market To Reach $5.7 Billion By 2030 Driven By Rapid Fleet Expansion

Aviation Today News Desk / April 11, 2026

New Delhi, India: India’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector is set for sustained growth, with the market expected to

START: India is emerging as the fastest-growing aviation market worldwide, yet it faces a significant hurdle: a shortage of trained technical personnel, including pilots, engineers, and technicians. This challenge is expected to become more acute as Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles enter the market within the next year or two, creating an additional need for pilots. The issue stems largely from inadequate planning and foresight by the authorities. Consequently, many aspiring Indian pilots are pursuing training in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bosnia, Montenegro, and the Philippines. In fact, approximately 700 out of every 1,000 commercial pilot licenses issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are earned abroad. India’s Potential as a Global Hub for Aviation Education Considering India’s expansive geography and favorable weather for flying, the country is ideally suited to be a global hub for aviation education. In the 1980s and 1990s, students from nations such as Iran, Jordan, Palestine, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and several African countries came to India for flight training. Today, the trend has reversed, with Indian students going overseas for pilot education. One key reason is the slow pace of domestic training programs and the cumbersome security clearance process for foreign students, which discourages them from enrolling in India. Competition from International Flight Schools Meanwhile, nations like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have established world-class flight schools. Students from neighboring Arab countries now mostly prefer the United States, Canada, and Europe for training, despite these regions lacking ideal weather for primary flight instruction. Domestic regulations further complicate matters. The DGCA allows a flight school to operate only if it meets minimum requirements for aircraft and paid-up capital, while the Airports Authority of India (AAI) imposes additional capital requirements. These rules do not guarantee quality education but are often sufficient to prevent many capable entrepreneurs from opening flight schools. By contrast, an Indian entrepreneur started a flight school in New Zealand with a single rented aircraft, which has since expanded to a fleet of over 20 planes and now attracts Indian students. Shortage of Trainer Aircraft The shortage of trainer aircraft is another pressing challenge. In the 1970s, Prof. David Hazen of Princeton University, invited by the Indian government to establish the first aeronautical department at IIT Kanpur, outlined a roadmap for India to achieve self-reliance in aviation training. However, progress has been slow. The DGCA developed the Swati light aircraft, manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), but a fatal accident during testing brought the program to an end. Similarly, the Hansa trainer created by the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) was rejected by most flight schools. Lessons from the Pushpak Aircraft A comparison with the Pushpak aircraft is instructive. Manufactured in the 1950s, HAL produced 160 Pushpaks, which served India reliably for over 50 years and maintained an excellent safety record. In 1968, the government gifted one Pushpak each to Singapore and Malaysia to help them establish their flight training programs. The Pushpak’s success was largely due to it being modeled closely on the proven US Aeronca Chief. NAL later developed the next-generation Hansa (NG Hansa), which was showcased at the 2020 Wings India airshow, but production has yet to start, and setting up the necessary infrastructure would still take several years even if action begins immediately. Global Trainer Aircraft Shortages and LSAs The shortage of trainer aircraft is not unique to India. Major manufacturers such as Cessna and Piper had slowed production, underestimating demand, and now struggle to meet global requirements. Other countries have tackled this problem by incorporating Light Sport Aircraft (LSAs) into flight training. Equipped with advanced navigation systems, LSAs are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and widely used in the US and EU for commercial pilot instruction. However, Indian regulations currently do not permit LSAs for commercial pilot training. Despite being equipped with only a magnetic compass, pilots trained on Pushpaks have gone on to fly advanced aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A320. Allowing LSAs in India could reduce aircraft shortages, encourage domestic manufacturing, generate employment, and attract foreign investment. Lack of Experienced Flight Instructors The lack of experienced flight instructors adds another layer of difficulty. Rapid growth in airlines such as Indigo and Air India has led many instructors to leave training schools for better pay, career progression, and recognition in commercial aviation. This high turnover leaves less-experienced instructors teaching students, unlike other professional fields where teachers usually have extensive industry experience. In countries like the US, airline pilots can provide primary flight training in their spare time, giving trainees the advantage of learning from seasoned professionals and ensuring higher safety standards. Without urgent, proactive measures, India will continue to rely on foreign nations to fulfill the increasing demand for skilled professionals in its civil aviation sector. https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/knowledge/flight-training-a-challenge-in-civil-aviation-101727069965710.html

Aviation Today Perspectives

India’s Aviation Boom Threatened By Severe Pilot, Instructor And Aircraft Shortages

Aviation Today Perspectives / December 13, 2025

By Captain S Sabu (Flight Instructor, Pilot at Jazeera Airways, Kuwait and Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society) India is

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