New Delhi: European aerospace major Airbus planed to increase its annual procurement of components and services from India from the current $1.6 billion to $2 billion before 2030, reinforcing the country's growing role in its global aerospace supply chain. Speaking at the Aviation India and South Asia 2026 conference in New Delhi on November 3, Airbus India and South Asia President and Managing Director Jürgen Westermeier described India as a "very important market" for the company.
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Westermeier said that Airbus is moving beyond sourcing individual components towards higher-value activities, including complex aerostructure assemblies, advanced digital avionics, engineering, design and development in India. The company is also exploring greater domestic sourcing of processed titanium, aluminium alloys and composite materials.
India's expanding aviation market provided significant opportunities for Airbus. Nearly 600 Airbus commercial aircraft are currently operating in the country, while Indian airlines have around 1,200 Airbus aircraft on order. The company estimated that approximately 15 per cent of its annual production is targeted at the Indian market.
Airbus is also focusing on developing India's aviation ecosystem by addressing gaps in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) infrastructure and the availability of skilled professionals. The company has invested in multiple pilot training centres across India, with an installed capacity of 14 full-flight simulators, including facilities for wide-body aircraft training.
Beyond commercial aviation, Airbus has two final assembly lines in India: one for the C295 military transport aircraft and another for the H125 helicopter. Its expanding industrial presence, combined with higher domestic sourcing and skill-development initiatives, positions India as an increasingly important manufacturing and engineering hub within Airbus's global operations.
The developments aligned with India's ambition to strengthen domestic aerospace manufacturing, reduce import dependence and build capabilities across the aviation value chain. Airbus's planned increase in sourcing also offered opportunities for Indian component manufacturers, engineering firms and suppliers to move into more technologically advanced segments.
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