Airbus expects to deliver more than two aircraft a week to India on average over the next 10 years, supported by a backlog of more than 1,200 aircraft for the country, the company’s India and South Asia chief said on Thursday.
Jurgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, said the backlog would amount to around 120 aircraft a year if deliveries were spread across the next decade. He made the remarks in an exclusive conversation with ANI.
“We already are very proud that today, of the 800 aircraft which are flying in India, more than 500 are from Airbus,” Westermeier said. He added that the company’s existing presence in the Indian aviation market would expand as airlines receive aircraft from their outstanding orders.
Airbus’ estimate is based on dividing the reported backlog of more than 1,200 aircraft by 10 years. Westermeier said the calculation represented an average of 120 aircraft annually, or more than two aircraft per week. The statement did not specify how deliveries would be distributed among individual Indian airlines or identify a detailed delivery schedule.
The Airbus executive also addressed the Air India flight AI2379 incident during the interview. The Airbus A320, operating from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop over Odisha, injuring 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.
“There are official processes to follow up with incidents like this, and the official process is fully followed to make sure that the best outcome is ensured,” Westermeier said. He did not provide further details about the incident or its investigation.
Alongside aircraft deliveries, Airbus is expanding its maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities in India. The company has selected Indamer Technics to establish South Asia’s first comprehensive radome repair facility in Nagpur under a service agreement.
The facility has been designated as an authorised centre for the repair, storage and exchange of radomes used on Airbus A320, A330, A350 and A380 aircraft in the region. A radome is the protective structure covering an aircraft’s radar equipment.
Westermeier said the new capability would strengthen the local aviation ecosystem and help airlines reduce maintenance turnaround times. “We are now in the process of establishing these critical capabilities in India. This will help grow the ecosystem, and this will also help our airline customers that they have quicker turnaround times,” he said.
According to Airbus, faster turnaround times could allow aircraft to return to service sooner and provide more services to customers. The collaboration is also intended to develop a localised Airbus avionics repair network across South Asia.
The Nagpur facility is expected to support airline operations ahead of upcoming widebody aircraft inductions while also helping optimise single-aisle aircraft maintenance across the region. Airbus did not provide a commissioning date or specify the investment involved in the facility in the supplied statement.
