India to Develop Domestic Aircraft Production, Says Aviation Minister Naidu

Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced plans in the Lok Sabha for an ambitious program aimed at developing "Made-in-India" aircraft. The initiative underscores the government's long-term vision for achieving self-reliance within the nation's rapidly expanding aviation sector. This strategic move seeks to establish domestic aircraft manufacturing capabilities, reducing India's dependence on international production cycles.

Minister Naidu highlighted that the global aircraft production landscape is currently dominated by a limited number of manufacturers, leading to significant delays in aircraft deliveries. He noted that even financially capable airlines face extensive wait times for fleet expansion, citing approximately 1,700 aircraft orders pending for India alone from major global players like Airbus and Boeing. This bottleneck, intensified by surging demand in regions such as the Gulf and Asia-Pacific, directly impacts the ability of Indian carriers to expand operations and improve service capacity.

In response to these supply chain limitations, the Indian government has committed to proactively addressing the challenge rather than solely relying on foreign production. Naidu emphasized that the real hurdle is aircraft availability, prompting the decision to create a domestic manufacturing program. This announcement comes amidst recent operational challenges faced by Indian airlines, including widespread flight disruptions experienced by IndiGo, further highlighting the urgency for enhanced aircraft availability and self-sufficiency.