Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu expressed hope on Tuesday that the first indigenous civil aircraft would be ready in India within two years through a joint venture.
Highlighting the growth potential of the country’s civil aviation sector, the Union Minister noted that airlines have placed orders for over 1,600 aircraft, with an estimated value of around $100 billion. He also mentioned that more than 100 new airports are expected to be built over the next decade.
Currently, the country has 165 airports, and domestic airlines operate a fleet of approximately 850 aircraft.
“Within two years, we will be able to produce civil aircraft in India through a joint venture,” Naidu said, emphasizing that the entire ecosystem supporting this sector is developing. However, he did not provide specific details regarding the project.
“We can formulate excellent policies,” the Union Minister said. He also highlighted the need to focus on material quality and skill training for the workforce to support high-end manufacturing activities in the aviation sector.
Naidu noted that aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus currently source components and services worth approximately $4 billion from India, a figure expected to rise to $10 billion by the end of the decade. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing domestic civil aviation markets.
Speaking at a seminar organized by the ‘Indian Foundation for Quality Management’ (IFQM) in the national capital, Naidu added that the government would also consider the possibility of manufacturing aircraft engines in the country, though he acknowledged it would be a long-term process. He participated in a session alongside T.V. Narendran, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Steel. Regarding sustainability efforts, the Minister stated that India has the potential to become an exporter of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). He said that the government would also work on formulating a ‘carbon credit’ system that would benefit industries.
