With 1,700 aircraft pending orders, India needs 30,000 pilots: Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu

November 15, 2025 at 04:41 PM•2 min read•thehindu.com

India's aviation sector will require 30,000 additional pilots to operate the 1,700 aircraft currently on order by Indian carriers, according to Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu. The Indian Government is also considering developing dedicated cargo airports to support the growing aviation sector.

Key Points

1India needs 30,000 additional pilots to operate 1,700 aircraft on order.
2The Indian Government plans to increase the number of Flying Training Organisations (FTOs).
3India is considering developing dedicated cargo airports.
4The Indian aviation sector aims to design, manufacture, and maintain its own aircraft.
5The Indian aerospace manufacturing sector targets $4 billion in component manufacturing by 2030.
6India's daily air passenger count averages 480,000.

India faces a significant pilot shortage as its commercial airlines expand their fleets, with an estimated need for 30,000 additional pilots to operate the 1,700 aircraft on order from manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted the critical need for more Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) to increase the supply of qualified pilots to meet this surging demand. Currently, India has approximately 8,000 pilots, but a substantial portion are not actively flying, exacerbating the impending shortfall.

The Minister emphasized that each aircraft requires 10 to 15 pilots to maintain proper schedules, underscoring the scale of the training challenge. To address this, the Indian Government is prioritizing the development of a robust skilling and training ecosystem within the country. This initiative aims to ensure that India can independently design, manufacture, and maintain its own aircraft in the long term, reducing reliance on foreign expertise.

Beyond pilot training, the Indian Government is also exploring the creation of dedicated cargo airports, modeled after facilities like FedEx's dedicated airport in the U.S. This initiative aims to improve cargo handling efficiency and address the current disadvantage faced by the aviation cargo sector compared to rail and road transport. Airport operators are being encouraged to prioritize cargo facilities alongside passenger services.

Furthermore, the Minister noted the significant job creation potential of the aviation sector, estimating that one job in aviation generates 15 indirect jobs, surpassing IATA's estimate of 6. He also highlighted the growth of India's aerospace manufacturing sector, with a target to increase component manufacturing from $2 billion to $4 billion by 2030. The Indian aviation sector is experiencing rapid growth, with an average of 480,000 daily passengers and a peak of 530,000 passengers recorded on November 10, signaling strong demand and future expansion.