Chaitali Bag
Wings India 2026 marks a major leap forward for Asia’s premier civil aviation event, growing far beyond a traditional airshow into a comprehensive global aviation platform. With ministerial delegations from 18 countries, over 7,500 business visitors, and more than 100,000 public attendees expected, this edition adds a Global Aviation Summit, a dedicated Innovation Zone for Advanced Air Mobility, and focused sessions on emerging technologies such as augmented-reality pilot training. New features—such as a drone show and a mega job fair—underline the event’s dual focus on cutting-edge innovation and workforce development as India prepares to add nearly 100 aircraft annually over the next decade.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Aerospace & Defence, the Honourable Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, charts the roadmap of India’s aviation boom—driven by ambitious infrastructure expansion, supportive policy reforms, and strong international collaboration—which has earned global recognition, including re-election to the ICAO Governing Council and hosting the IATA AGM after four decades. Key drivers include rapid airport growth (from 74 to 164 in 10 years), record passenger volumes, 100% FDI in MRO and component manufacturing, and major OEM investments, such as Safran’s MRO facility in Hyderabad. Policy milestones such as new MRO guidelines, alignment of training with EASA, and replacement of the Aircraft Act with the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam are accelerating capacity, safety, and industry confidence—positioning India as a leading, fast-growing aviation market.
Q. How has Wings India 2026 evolved compared to previous editions and what do you see as its key highlights?
A. Wings India, being organized every two years, has evolved significantly over the years. Since the premiere in 2008, it has grown into Asia’s largest civil aviation event. Ministerial delegations from 18 countries are participating this year, with over 7,500 business visitors and more than one lakh general visitors expected.
Wings India 2026 will be far more extensive than previous editions. Beyond exhibitions and business meetings, we are also organizing this year’s Global Aviation Summit, bringing together stakeholders from both developed and emerging economies for meaningful discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Also, this edition places a strong emphasis on future technologies and innovation, with focused discussions on advanced air mobility and emerging technologies such as augmented reality for pilot training. For the first time, we are introducing a dedicated Innovation Zone, featuring leading global Advanced Air Mobility companies.
For the first time, alongside aerial displays, we will also be hosting a drone show, symbolizing the expanding role of new-age aviation technologies in Indian aviation.
Another important highlight is the mega job fair being organized at Wings India 2026. As we prepare for a phase in which nearly 100 aircraft will be added to Indian skies over the next 10–15 years, skilled manpower will be critical. And aviation in India, with a job multiplier effect of 15, is going to create many opportunities for our youth.
So, Wings India 2026 is not only about showcasing aircraft and technology; it is also about inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals and encouraging new-age technology.
Q. India’s aviation sector is soaring like never before, capturing global attention as one of the fastest-growing markets! What, in your view, are the key forces fueling this remarkable expansion?
A. We have indeed made remarkable growth in the aviation sector under the pragmatic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi Ji. And with regards to global attention, I would say Indian skies are the brightest as of today. India has been successfully re-elected to the ICAO Governing Council with the highest mandate. After a 4-decade gap, the IATA Annual General Meeting was hosted in India, underscoring global recognition of India’s aviation leadership.
This is all in recognition of domestic benchmarks we are setting, be it the development of state-of-the-art terminals, increasing the number of airports to 164 from 74 in a decade, or supporting regional connectivity through UDAN. In 2024, we crossed the historic milestone of 5 lakh domestic passengers in a single day for the first time and in November 2025, we recorded over 5.3 lakh passengers in a single day!
I would say that India’s aviation sector’s continuous growth of 10-12% annually is supported by a conducive ecosystem encouraging both domestic and international participation. We have 100% FDI permitted in the MRO and component manufacturing sectors. Global OEMs such as Airbus, Boeing, Thales and Embraer are significantly increasing their footprint in India. A landmark example is Safran’s MRO facility in Hyderabad, which is not only one of the largest global aircraft engine MRO facilities but also the first time a global engine OEM has set up MRO in India.
We have also initiated several significant policy reforms to strengthen the sector. These include the new MRO guidelines, the harmonization of our training ecosystem with EASA standards and the replacement of the nearly 90-year-old Aircraft Act with the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam. We have also supported stakeholders in expanding their assets through the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Act, which has lowered leasing costs for Indian stakeholders. The rationalization of GST, as announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister, has enabled stakeholders to manage expenses more efficiently and maintain better financial health.
Q. In light of the growing emphasis on sustainability-driven innovation, how is the ministry incorporating it into its long-term technological and developmental roadmap?
- We, in partnership with ICAO, have conducted a Feasibility Study for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in India. Drawing on international best practices and adapting them to India’s socio-economic and environmental context, it provided us a comprehensive roadmap for SAF adoption in the country. Building on this, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, is formulating a dedicated SAF Policy to promote both the production and usage of sustainable fuels. We are preparing to become self-sufficient in SAF production, targeting 1% blending by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030, in alignment with the CORSIA mandate for carbon-neutral growth. Key milestones have already been achieved, like COTECNA Inspection India Pvt. Ltd. becoming the first Indian SAF certification body in 2025, and Indian Oil’s Panipat Refinery getting certified as the country’s first SAF producer.
With a collective plant capacity of 8-10 crore litres per annum, India is not only preparing to meet domestic SAF demand but also to export it. Still, it is also positioning itself as a global exporter of sustainable aviation fuels.
In addition, we are leveraging technology and innovation, such as daylighting concepts, to improve airport operations and make them more efficient and sustainable. This includes creating digital twins to optimize the operations and converting the on-ground vehicle fleet to electric. As of today, 93 Airports have achieved 100% Green Energy usage, and we aim to reach 100 airports in the coming months.
Q. How is India strategically positioning itself to capitalize on the ongoing global supply-chain realignments, particularly in strengthening its capabilities in aerospace manufacturing, enhancing MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) infrastructure and establishing itself as a competitive global hub for aviation services?
A. I believe the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, laid the foundation for promoting domestic aero-manufacturing. A key demonstration of international confidence in India’s capabilities is Safran’s establishment of its largest aircraft engine MRO facility in the country.
To enable this, the government has been introducing several bold reforms, such as a uniform 5% IGST on imports of aircraft parts and components, which has made domestic aerospace more competitive, saving airlines approximately ₹1,000–1,200 crore annually. Export periods for repair goods have been extended, and most significantly, 100% FDI is now allowed in MRO through the automatic route. Legislative measures have also strengthened the sector, including the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024, which provides a framework for the domestic design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft and components.
These reforms have enabled India to become the fastest-growing MRO market in the world, projected to grow at 9% annually from 2021 to 2031 and to double to $4 billion by 2030.
And many significant MRO developments are underway, including Air India’s MRO facility at Bengaluru Airport, IndiGo’s MRO at Kempe Gowda Airport, Air Works’ facility at Bhubaneswar and India’s first wide-body jet engine MRO hub by Lufthansa in Bangalore.
So, we have been working to build the entire MRO ecosystem, with policy and regulatory support. The key objective is to advance the Hon’ble PM’s vision of Make in India and Swadeshi.
Q. With India emerging as a dynamic hub at the crossroads of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, how do you envision its evolving role in shaping global aviation networks, partnerships, and connectivity in the coming decade?
A. Over the coming decade, I envision India emerging not just as a regional hub but as a strategic connector of continents, facilitating seamless passenger and cargo flows across major markets. Our rapidly expanding infrastructure, growing fleet and modernized airports will support enhanced connectivity.
India’s new greenfield airports, such as Jewar and Navi Mumbai, will serve as gateways, integrating with networks like the India-Middle East-Europe (IME) corridor to reduce flight times and costs. India strategically bridges the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa. With our world-class hub airports, we are aiming to capture and redirect the Great Circle traffic that has historically flowed through external hubs. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has formulated an International Aviation Hub Strategy to make India the aviation hub of choice for Indian passengers by 2030 and for the world by 2047. Share of Indian carriers in international traffic originating from India has already increased from 36% in 2019 to 47% in 2024.
We are also set to launch a pilot project to enable seamless passenger transfers between domestic flights and international departures at a major hub airport. The Home Ministry is actively considering our proposal. The initiative is part of the broader ‘Hub Strategy’ for airport operations.
Even Delhi airport, with four runways, the first airport in the country to have them and CAT-III enabled all-weather operations, efficiently handles around 50,000 daily transfers, reinforcing its position as a true hub airport.
By combining strategic location, technological innovation and a skilled workforce, India is poised to play a central role in global aviation networks.
