- Manufacturing, Connectivity, Sustainability: Wings India 2026 Signals New Era
- From Market to Maker: Wings India 2026 Charts India’s Global Aviation Ascent
By Sangeeta Saxena
Hyderabad. 29 January 2026. The second day of Wings India 2026, India’s most prestigious and Asia’s largest civil aviation event, unfolded as a defining moment for the nation’s aviation sector, marked by a series of landmark announcements spanning aircraft acquisition, indigenous manufacturing, global connectivity, sustainability, infrastructure development, and human capital creation. Held at the Skyline Auditorium, Begumpet, the event underscored India’s rapid transformation from a fast-growing aviation market into a comprehensive global aviation ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu highlighted the unprecedented expansion of India’s aviation sector under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, asserting that India is now firmly on course to become a globally influential aviation powerhouse. “India is no longer just flying aircraft—we are designing, building, and leading global aviation. From market to maker, India’s aviation ecosystem is taking global leadership flight,” he said, describing Wings India as a powerful statement of confidence, capability, and collective commitment to progress.
Transformative Industry Announcements
Among the most significant announcements, Air India revealed an additional order for 30 fuel-efficient narrowbody aircraft from Boeing, taking its total aircraft order book to a staggering 600 aircraft—one of the largest globally. Strengthening operational resilience, the airline also signed a multi-year agreement with Boeing Global Services for its Component Services Program, covering the entire Boeing 787 fleet, including aircraft on order. These strategic initiatives further reinforced Air India’s long-term vision for fleet modernisation and ecosystem development.
In another major development, Air India and Airbus signed an agreement to convert 15 A321neo aircraft orders into the advanced A321XLR variant, enabling the launch of new non-stop long-haul international routes. The move is set to significantly enhance India’s global air connectivity while delivering superior fuel efficiency and extended range.
Strengthening indigenous manufacturing, Sakthi Group and Omnipol signed a Memorandum of Understanding to introduce the L410 NG 19-seater aircraft in India, including an assessment of modalities for establishing a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in the country. The initiative marks a major step towards bolstering India’s regional aircraft manufacturing capabilities under the Make in India framework.
Further boosting civil helicopter operations, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) executed a contract with Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) for the supply of 10 Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters, reinforcing confidence in India’s indigenous aviation platforms and expanding their domestic and global footprint.
Building Global Talent and Leadership
In a significant capacity-building initiative, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed an agreement with Airports Council International (ACI) for the Airports Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP). Over the next five years, the programme will train more than 115 aviation professionals, creating a globally deployable leadership talent pool and positioning India as a trusted centre for airport management excellence.
Adding intellectual depth to the event, the KPMG–FICCI knowledge report titled “Paving the Future of Aviation in Viksit Bharat @ 2047” was formally released. The report outlined a comprehensive roadmap to transform India from one of the world’s largest aviation markets into a global aviation ecosystem leader, identifying nine strategic themes to convert scale into sustained global competitiveness.
Telangana’s Green Aviation Vision
Representing the host state, Shri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, reaffirmed Telangana’s commitment to building a world-class aviation ecosystem, outlining a bold roadmap to position the state as a leading aero-engine manufacturing and MRO hub by 2047. Emphasising sustainability, he said, “The future of aviation will be green,” highlighting Hyderabad airport’s operations powered entirely by renewable energy as a testament to Telangana’s forward-looking vision. He added that Telangana is rapidly emerging as a global centre where innovation, skills, and manufacturing converge.
Celebrating Excellence
The day concluded with the Wings India Excellence Awards, presented by Shri Rammohan Naidu, honouring outstanding achievements across airports, airlines, manufacturing, sustainability, innovation, and state-led aviation development. The awards celebrated leadership and excellence that are shaping the future trajectory of India’s aviation sector.
With transformative announcements, visionary leadership, and a clear roadmap for sustainability, manufacturing, and global connectivity, Wings India 2026 has reaffirmed India’s position as one of the most dynamic aviation ecosystems in the world. The event stands as a powerful testament to India’s journey from rapid growth to global leadership, signalling that the nation’s aviation ambitions are now firmly aligned with its broader goal of becoming a developed and globally influential power by 2047.
