According to Edward Delahaye, head of customer accounts for India and South Asia at Airbus, India is projected to emerge as the hub of the global aviation industry within the next 15 years due to the robust demand, capacity, and proficiently managed airlines operating in the country’s aviation sector.
Delahaye highlighted on Wednesday at the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers India 2024 event that there is a need for improvement in airport connectivity in India, particularly concerning passenger transitions between domestic and international flights at Indian airports. This enhancement is vital as Indian carriers are expanding their presence in international air traffic.
Delahaye noted that while airports in Singapore or Doha are renowned for their smooth transfers, the same level of convenience is sometimes lacking in Indian airports. Currently, the skies over India host approximately 800 commercial aircraft, with the majority of them manufactured by the European aerospace corporation Airbus.
Delahaye expressed confidence in the future of Indian aviation, citing factors such as domestic traffic growth, GDP expansion, regaining international traffic, and positioning India as a global transit hub. Last year, the two largest aircraft orders worldwide were placed by IndiGo and Air India. In June 2023, IndiGo ordered 500 A320neo family planes from Airbus, while in February 2023, the Air India Group ordered 470 planes — 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing.
Delahaye opined, “I believe that 15 years from now, India will be the center of world aviation. The potential, market, demand, and capable professional organizations are all here.” He emphasized that as India’s airport infrastructure evolves, it will naturally become a pivotal global transit hub.
He added, “It’s not certain whether they will directly compete with West Asian carriers. Perhaps this connectivity could expand to Central Asia or the Pacific.”
