Airbus Eyes Gains from ‘Boeing Fear’ amid India’s Aviation Boom
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Growing safety concerns have emerged around Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner amid multiple technical issues, prompting Indian pilots to seek a probe.
By SANJAY SINGH
New Delhi, October 6, 2025 — Is India now favoring Airbus over Boeing as a strategic aviation partner, particularly in the aftermath of the June 12 Ahmedabad crash involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
It certainly appears so, based on recent high-level meetings involving External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, the Board of Directors of Airbus, and senior management of IndiGo.
While the discussions focused on India’s ongoing infrastructure, economic, and governance transformations, both ministers emphasized the vast opportunities these present for global aviation stakeholders. India also expressed its intent — particularly through IndiGo — to strengthen and expand regional connectivity, which has not grown as expected.
With passenger traffic surging and airport infrastructure expanding, India is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Airbus and IndiGo, both pivotal players in this ecosystem, are expected to play a significant role in this growth. Officials said the talks also included topics like technology transfer, manufacturing partnerships, and sustainability initiatives — all aligned with India’s goals of self-reliance and green aviation.
IndiGo operates a fleet of 357 aircraft — all Airbus — for both domestic and international routes, with a small number of leased Boeing aircraft used to meet growing international demand. Meanwhile, Air India operates around 200 narrow-body Airbus planes for domestic routes and Boeing wide-body aircraft for long-haul international flights. Other carriers like SpiceJet operate 97 aircraft — all Boeing — Akasa Air operates 24 Boeing planes, and Air India Express flies 50 Boeing aircraft.
Airbus currently dominates India’s commercial fleet, with over 610 aircraft in service — significantly outnumbering Boeing’s estimated 209 aircraft. This lead is primarily driven by low-cost carriers like IndiGo, whose fleet is nearly 100% Airbus. Air India’s fleet is roughly 57% Airbus and 43% Boeing. While Boeing maintains a stronghold in India’s long-haul segment via Air India’s wide-body jets, Airbus’s dominance in the short-haul sector, combined with new bulk orders, positions it for continued leadership.
IndiGo commands nearly 50% of India’s civil aviation market, with a capacity of 11.8 million seats in September 2025 — a 2% year-on-year increase. Air India follows as the second-largest airline in the country, offering 3.5 million seats and holding a 15% market share.
Meanwhile, growing safety concerns have emerged around Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. Multiple technical snags have prompted Indian pilots to call for a comprehensive inspection and probe into the aircraft’s electrical systems — a development that may further sway India’s strategic preferences toward Airbus.
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