India is set to soar to new heights in the aviation sector, with a demand projection for over 2,500 new aircraft deliveries by 2042. Boeing’s Vice President of Commercial Marketing, Darren Hulst, made this revelation during a press conference on Friday. The surge in air traffic, both passenger and cargo, is identified as the key driver behind this ambitious requirement.
South Asian carriers, including India, are anticipated to quadruple the size of their fleets over the next two decades. To meet the rising demand, more than 2,705 new airplanes will be necessary, with India accounting for over 92% of this figure. Hulst emphasized that this projection is based on data from the middle of the previous year.
The forecast envisions a robust fleet composition for India, comprising more than 2,300 single-aisle aircraft and nearly 400 wide-body aircraft catering to long-haul flights.
Boeing highlights India as a unique market in Asia, being the only large economy to have rebounded to pre-pandemic demand levels, both domestically and internationally.
While focusing on passenger aircraft, Boeing also underscores the untapped potential in India’s cargo fleet. The forecast predicts an increase of 80 freighter aircraft over the next two decades.
Addressing recent concerns regarding the MAX 9 issues, Boeing assured that there would be no meaningful delays in plane deliveries to India. This statement comes in response to an incident where a cabin panel on a 737 MAX 9 jet blew out midair.
Boeing’s Vice President for Commercial Marketing, Darren Hulst, reiterated the company’s commitment to prioritizing the quality of aircraft over sheer numbers in India.