Delhi: Airbus brings global leadership to India
Airbus is set to bring its top executives to Delhi this week for its annual strategy meeting, marking the first time the board convenes in India. According to The Economic Times, the visit will include meetings with top government officials and executives from India’s largest airline customers, IndiGo and Air India.
Traditionally, Airbus board meetings take place in Europe or in countries where the company has substantial manufacturing operations, such as China, which hosts a final assembly line for A320 jets. The last board meeting outside Europe was in China in 2018.
Strategic timing amid Make-in-India push
The timing of the visit coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration urging global aerospace firms to move from selling into India to building in India. With Indian carriers having ordered over 1,500 aircraft, Airbus faces growing pressure to strengthen its local presence.
An Airbus spokesperson stated, “We continue to further integrate India into our global value chain. This visit will serve to reinforce our commitment, cementing Airbus’ role as a reliable partner of India.”
Supplier visits and local integration
During their trip, the Airbus board will visit Indian suppliers Tata Advanced Systems in Hyderabad and Dynamatic Technologies in Karnataka, which are part of Airbus’ Tier 1 global supply network. Currently, Airbus sources $1.4 billion worth of components annually from over 40 Indian suppliers, a figure the company aims to increase to $2 billion by 2030.
Airbus is already setting up final assembly lines for C-295 military aircraft in Gujarat and civilian helicopters in Karnataka. However, the company remains cautious about manufacturing commercial jets locally.
Implications for India’s aerospace sector
The visit signals Airbus’ commitment to expanding its Indian operations, which could create significant employment and technology transfer opportunities in the aerospace sector. It also underscores India’s growing role in the global aerospace supply chain, reinforcing the Make-in-India initiative in high-tech industries.
As India continues to grow its aviation market, collaboration with major players like Airbus is expected to accelerate domestic manufacturing and enhance India’s strategic importance in the global aerospace ecosystem.