Indian Aircraft Fleet to Reach 2,250 by 2035, MRO Market to Hit US$9.5 Billion

Why It Matters

The scale‑up reshapes global aviation dynamics, creating massive opportunities for aircraft manufacturers, MRO providers, and talent pipelines in a high‑growth market.

Key Takeaways

• Fleet to reach 2,250 aircraft by 2035
• Passenger traffic growing 8.9% annually
• MRO market projected US$9.5 bn by 2035
• Need 35,000 pilots, 34,000 technicians
• Airports to increase 50, total ~200

Pulse Analysis

India’s aviation boom is anchored in its rapid economic expansion, rising middle‑class incomes, and government commitment to infrastructure. Per‑capita air travel is projected to more than double, fueling an 8.9% annual increase in passenger traffic. This demand is prompting airlines to order large numbers of narrow‑body and wide‑body jets, with Airbus positioning its A320 family and A350 series as the backbone of domestic and international routes. The resulting fleet growth creates a cascade of downstream needs, from ground handling to sophisticated digital platforms.

The surge in aircraft numbers directly translates into a three‑fold expansion of the MRO market, expected to hit $9.5 billion by 2035. Operators will require extensive airframe, engine, and component services, prompting both global OEMs and local providers to scale capabilities. Investment in advanced diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and supply‑chain digitisation will become critical to keep aircraft operationally efficient and cost‑effective. This environment also opens avenues for partnerships, joint ventures, and technology transfers, positioning India as a future hub for regional MRO activity.

Workforce and infrastructure development are equally pivotal. The industry will need an additional 23,000 pilots and 23,000 technicians, prompting accelerated training programs and certification pathways. Simultaneously, the government’s plan to add 50 new airports, reaching roughly 200 by 2035, will support higher frequency routes and hub‑and‑spoke models. Digitalisation investments of up to $1 billion will enhance flight operations, ground handling, and cybersecurity, ensuring the ecosystem can sustain the unprecedented growth trajectory.

Indian aircraft fleet to reach 2,250 by 2035, MRO market to hit US$9.5 billion

Hyderabad, India · 29 January 2026

• Indian commercial aircraft fleet to triple by 2035

• Passenger traffic to grow at 8.9 % annually

• Maintenance market to triple to US$9.5 bn driven by fleet expansion

• India will require 35,000 pilots, 34,000 technicians by 2035

India’s commercial aircraft fleet will triple in size to 2,250 aircraft over the next decade, as the country grows to become the third‑largest civil aviation market in the world by 2035. This fleet expansion is driven both by the Indian aviation market boom and the Indian airlines’ ambition to expand on international routes.

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 behavior, with per‑capita air travel rising from 0.13 to 0.29 over the next decade.

As a result, passenger traffic in India will grow at 8.9 % 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.

“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,” said Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia.

“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.”

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.

Indian airlines are also expected to spend up to US$1 billion by 2035 on digitalisation of flight, ground and technical operations as well as cyber security and aircraft connectivity.

The fleet growth will be met with an equally ambitious infrastructure roadmap where the government will increase the number of operational airports by 50, bringing the national total to approximately 200 by 2035. The additional infrastructure spend will help sustain high‑frequency operations.

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