Hyderabad, Jan 29 (.) Wings India 2026, India’s most prestigious and Asia’s largest civil aviation event, witnessed a series of landmark and transformative announcements on its second day at Begumpet Airport on Thursday, reinforcing India’s rapid emergence as a global aviation hub across manufacturing, connectivity, sustainability, and human capital development.
Among the major industry announcements, Air India revealed an additional order for 30 fuel-efficient Boeing narrowbody aircraft, taking its total aircraft order book to 600 aircraft, one of the largest airline fleets on order globally.
In a significant move to strengthen operational resilience, Air India also signed a multi-year agreement with Boeing Global Services for the Component Services Program, covering its entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, including aircraft on order.
These strategic initiatives further reinforce Air India’s long-term fleet modernisation strategy and its commitment to building a robust aviation ecosystem.
In another major development, Air India and Airbus signed an agreement to convert 15 A321neo aircraft orders into the advanced A321XLR variant. The A321XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft will enable Air India to launch new non-stop international routes, significantly enhancing India’s global air connectivity while benefiting from superior fuel efficiency and extended range.
Strengthening regional aircraft manufacturing, Sakthi Group and Omnipol signed a Memorandum of Understanding to introduce the globally proven L410 NG 19-seater aircraft in India.
The agreement includes an assessment of modalities for establishing a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in the country, marking a major step forward under the Make in India initiative.
In the civil helicopter segment, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) executed a contract with Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) for the supply of 10 Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters.
The agreement represents a significant milestone for India’s civil helicopter ecosystem and reflects growing confidence in indigenously developed aviation platforms.
Focusing on human capital development, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed a key agreement with the Airports Council International (ACI) for the Airports Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP).
Over the next five years, more than 115 aviation professionals will be trained, creating a globally deployable leadership talent pool and positioning India as a trusted hub for airport management expertise.
On the knowledge front, the KPMG–FICCI report titled “Paving the Future of Aviation in Viksit Bharat @ 2047” was formally released.
The report identifies aviation as a critical driver of economic growth, trade, tourism, and employment, and outlines a roadmap for India’s transition from one of the world’s largest aviation markets to a global aviation ecosystem leader, highlighting nine strategic themes to convert scale into sustained global competitiveness.
. KNR CDS