Industry leaders see a promising opportunity in the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and India to strengthen ties in aviation. Key focus areas include maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), workforce development, and industrial integration, with discussions held during the 2026 International Conference on the Future of Aviation and Aerospace. Experts highlighted Europe's highly integrated aviation ecosystem and India's rapid rise as a manufacturing and design hub, emphasizing mutual benefits.
India currently ranks as the fifth-largest global aviation market and is expected to climb to third within a decade. European aerospace companies, notably Airbus, are actively engaged, with Airbus holding approximately 1,250 aircraft orders from Indian carriers. The country's MRO sector is projected to reach $9.5 billion soon, with industry specialists emphasizing India's strengths in technology, engineering, and skilled labor as vital assets for leading in maintenance and lifecycle management.
Furthermore, analysts point out India's relatively low domestic air travel penetration, indicating substantial future demand. Efforts to bolster the civil aviation ecosystem remain ongoing, alongside advancements in defense aerospace manufacturing. Harnessing these capacities could elevate India's standing in global aviation, particularly in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing sectors.
