500+ aircraft deliveries due to Indian airlines in 5 years
Demand for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services in India is expected to grow to US$5.7 billion by 2030 from US$4.4 billion in 2025, a 5.4 per cent growth per annum in dollar volume of business, according to a Singapore-based consultancy.
Engine MRO demand is expected to contribute almost half of this demand, with airframe and modifications demand slated to grow the fastest in this five-year period, according to a study report by Alan Lim and Joshua Ng, Directors of Alton Aviation Consultancy and aviation industry veterans.
Alton forecasts that India’s commercial aircraft fleet will grow to more than 1,800 aircraft by 2030, with narrowbody aircraft almost doubling from over 700 aircraft today to over 1,300, Lim and Ng said on 20 Mar.
Indian airlines’ have already placed more than 500 aircraft for delivery over the next five years, reported the Press Trust of India, citing the directors of the American-origin consultancy.
“To accommodate this growth, the government has committed to building more than 100 additional airports over the next six years, taking the total to over 200 by 2030,” the two industry veterans told PTI.
“A rapidly expanding middle class, increased low-cost carrier penetration, and improving regional connectivity are further stimulating demand,” they said, backing their market outlook.
Beyond MRO, India is developing a broader aerospace ecosystem to support sustained aviation growth. “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 noted, “Special economic zones, including GIFT City, are being positioned to anchor aircraft leasing and related financial services, while policies such as the ratification of the Cape Town Convention, liberalized foreign direct investment rules, and reductions in GST and customs duties on aviation components are lowering barriers for global aerospace players.
“Together, coordinated public policy and private investment are helping to build a more integrated, self-sustaining aviation value chain in India, spanning airports, leasing, aerospace manufacturing, and MRO,” PTI quoted the duo as saying..
The aviation-focused consultancy, which has offices across eight key aviation hubs around the globe, has highlighted recent high-profile investments in the Indian aviation sector.
Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced operations in December 2025, and Noida Airport will soon commence operations, in March 2026, with initial capacities of 12 million and 20 million passengers annually, respectively.
Dholera International Airport (planned investment of over US$250 million, targeted completion December 2026) and Bhogapuram International Airport (planned investment of over US$550 million, targeted completion June 2026) are set to further expand capacity.
Both Lim and Ng feel that continued investment in the supporting aviation infrastructure and services in India, especially for MRO services, is important, given that a large number of Indian aircraft are going for services outside the country including Singapore.
Several high-profile investments in recent years underscore this momentum, they added, listing aerospace focused special economic zones, including Hyderabad’s Adibatla SEZ, are attracting global suppliers such as Pratt and Whitney and Safran.
Safran inaugurated its Euro200 million LEAP engine MRO facility in Hyderabad for strengthening India’s capabilities in next generation engine overhaul.
IndiGo, in partnership with Bengaluru International Airport, has commenced development of a dedicated MRO facility to support its expanding fleet, they pointed out.
Elsewhere, Thales opened a new avionics MRO facility in India, expanding domestic repair capability in high value components, and the Adani Group acquired Air Works in December 2024 and subsequently AAR-Indamer Technics, which has consolidated its position in commercial MRO
In Feb 2026, the Adani Group also signed an MoU with Embraer to establish a final assembly line for the E175 regional jet in India.
Under the Rafale programme’s 50 per cent offset clause, Dassault of France and its partners will be required to reinvest about half the contract value into India, supporting domestic manufacturing and aerospace capability development.
“Collectively, these developments signal that infrastructure capacity, manufacturing depth, and technical capabilities are beginning to scale to support the projected fleet growth, with growing participation from both domestic and international investors seeking to anchor long term aviation capabilities within India,” said Lim and Ng.
Supporting this growth will require more than continued investment from the public and private sectors. Faster parts logistics, deeper pools of skilled and certified maintenance personnel, and greater capability in higher value segments such as engines and complex components will be essential, they said.
“Close coordination between airlines, MRO providers, airports, training institutions, and policymakers will play a critical role in building a resilient ecosystem capable of supporting India’s expanding air transport sector,” they believe.
As India’s aviation market scales, the MRO sector is set to become a core enabler of growth rather than a peripheral service, linking the country’s long term air transport outlook with industrial development and employment creation, said the duo. Fiinews.com
