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Boeing India Head Highlights Importance of MRO in Aviation Ecosystem

Boeing India Chief Highlights Strategic Importance of MRO in Aviation Growth
Expanding Maintenance Capabilities Amid Market Growth
Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India & South Asia, has emphasized the critical role that Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities will play in the future of India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector. With projections indicating nearly 3,000 new aircraft entering the Indian market over the next two decades, Gupte stressed the necessity of developing strong local maintenance infrastructure to support this growth. Speaking to ANI, he underscored that aircraft servicing must increasingly be conducted within India to sustain the ecosystem of Aviation India. Boeing’s ongoing collaborations with key partners such as GMR, Air Works, and Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AIASL) are central to advancing both base and line maintenance capabilities.
Gupte also highlighted the broader strategic significance of the aerospace sector, advocating for a zero-tariff regime to facilitate growth, given the industry’s importance to national infrastructure and security. He expressed optimism about resolving current trade and tariff issues between India and the United States in the near future, reflecting confidence in strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Investment and Competitive Dynamics in the MRO Sector
Looking ahead, Boeing aims to encourage its suppliers, including engine and component manufacturers, to establish a stronger presence in India. Notably, companies like Safran have already initiated engine MRO operations, and Boeing has announced new ventures in landing gear maintenance. Additional suppliers specializing in electrical systems and avionics are expected to follow, contributing to a more comprehensive domestic aerospace ecosystem.
However, Boeing’s ambitions unfold within a highly competitive global MRO market. The company’s 2025 outlook anticipates a slight decline in demand for technicians and maintenance personnel, which may present challenges for workforce planning. Meanwhile, competitors such as Airbus are intensifying their investments in MRO infrastructure, and regional players like Joramco have expanded capacity with new hangars to capture a larger share of the growing market. Firoz Tarapore, CEO of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), recently highlighted the robust and fiercely competitive nature of the global MRO sector, underscoring the challenges companies face in securing market leadership.
Despite these competitive pressures, Gupte pointed to Boeing’s substantial investments in India’s defense and aerospace industries, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in engineering and manufacturing under the framework of the U.S.-India joint statement. He noted that this collaboration was a key element of the agreement reached between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the year.
Building a Comprehensive Aviation Ecosystem
On the civil aviation front, Gupte described India as one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide, driven by a surge in aircraft orders. He emphasized that success depends not only on delivering aircraft but also on developing a holistic ecosystem encompassing MRO services and pilot training. Initiatives such as competency-based training and Boeing’s ‘Sukanya’ programme, which promotes women’s participation in aviation and was launched at the request of Prime Minister Modi, were cited as important steps toward building this ecosystem.
In the defense sector, Gupte reaffirmed Boeing’s commitment to co-development and co-production with India, referencing recent deliveries of Apache helicopters to the Indian Army and ongoing efforts to maintain leadership among foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in collaborative projects.
As India’s aerospace industry continues to evolve, Gupte concluded that its trajectory will depend on sustained collaboration and strategic investment, both domestically and within the context of a highly competitive global MRO landscape.

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