Indian Airlines to Add 100 Aircraft a Year for 15 Years

India’s civil aviation expansion is entering a high-growth phase, with the government projecting sustained aircraft inductions by domestic carriers as new airports come online and international connectivity is reworked around Indian hubs. The push is aimed at reducing India’s dependence on foreign transit hubs and increasing direct long-haul services from within the country.

Fleet Growth Signals Long-Term Capacity Surge

Union civil aviation minister “Ram Mohan Naidu” said Indian carriers are expected to induct around “100 aircraft annually for the next 10–15 years”, driven by large existing orders. India currently has “843 aircraft”. In calendar year 2025, airlines inducted “80 planes”, and about “106 more” are expected in 2026. The minister cited orders and growth plans across major operators including the Air India group, IndiGo, Akasa, and regional carrier Star Air.

New Airports and Direct Connectivity Strategy

The government is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to boost international flights from upcoming mega airports. Rather than relying mainly on increasing bilateral air service agreements, the emphasis is on enabling Indian airports and airlines to build “true potential” through direct hub-to-hub flying. The approach also aims to attract travellers from nearby countries to connect through Indian airports, while funnelling passengers from Indian cities into emerging domestic global hubs for onward overseas travel.

Reclaiming International Traffic from Foreign Transit Hubs

For decades, a significant share of international traffic between India and the world has been carried via nearby foreign hubs and their home airlines, including Dubai, Doha, Colombo, Singapore and major European gateways. The minister said policy since 2014 has focused on bringing more of this traffic back to Indian airlines and airports. However, he underlined a key constraint: Indian carriers must scale up wide-body operations to run more non-stop long-haul routes, noting that global competitors operate large wide-body fleets while Indian operators remain at much lower levels, though new wide-bodies are on order.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• India’s commercial fleet is stated at 843 aircraft, with rapid induction planned.
• 2025 inductions were 80 aircraft; about 106 are expected in 2026.
• Bilateral air service agreements set the framework for international seat and flight entitlements.
• Wide-body aircraft are crucial for non-stop long-haul connectivity and hub creation.

Bhogapuram Validation Flight and New Focus Regions

The minister spoke at “Bhogapuram Airport” after it received its first commercial validation flight by Air India, ahead of the airport’s expected operational launch this summer. He identified the “Global South and Africa” as priority regions for expanding direct air links from India, while also acknowledging that some routes to major destinations are already fully utilised under current bilateral limits, prompting debate on recalibration without undermining domestic carriers.