India to Receive One Aircraft Weekly: GE Aerospace CEO Highlights Country's Aviation Growth and Indigenous Technology Development

According to Vikram Rai, GE Aerospace CEO for South Asia, as India's aspirational economy continues to expand, the nation will acquire at least one aircraft weekly over the next decade, highlighting the remarkable progress in India's aviation sector.

Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2025, Rai emphasized that each new aircraft brings the challenge of powering it safely, efficiently, and sustainably. He shared valuable perspectives on aerospace technology's future, innovations across regions, and transformative strategies reshaping aviation and aerospace industries.

Illustrating this growth with statistics, Rai noted that 39 million Indians traveled internationally last year, while the country's airports have more than doubled from 75 to approximately 160 over the past decade. He pointed out that India now ranks as the world's third-largest civil aerospace market.

"Aspirational India cannot wait," Rai stated emphatically.

The aerospace executive also commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's UDAAN initiative, designed to make air travel accessible even to common citizens wearing 'hawai chappal' (basic footwear).

This accessibility is becoming reality. Rai recounted how his household help informed him about planning to fly for her vacation. "I felt great," he shared.

Rai also acknowledged advancements in indigenous technology. Referencing Operation Sindoor, he noted how recent military engagements have demonstrated the capabilities of Indian technology. He emphasized that GE Aerospace recognizes India not merely as a technology consumer but as a developer of sophisticated indigenous technologies.

"We aspire to partner with India towards their vision of Amritkal, a developed India by 2047. We have laid the building blocks of that partnership. GE Aerospace's contribution towards 'Make in India' has been impactful and significant," Rai declared.

In Bengaluru, GE Aerospace operates a technology center where over 1,500 engineers develop next-generation technologies. The company also manufactures engine components in Pune, which Rai described as a genuine example of the 'Make in India' initiative.

"For aspirational India, aerospace is not just about aircraft or engines. It is about the inventions in Bengaluru and the hustle of technicians in Nagpur. It is about that young passenger who looks out of the aeroplane window and says, 'I want to build this aeroplane', and a teenager saying, 'I want to do space travel'," he concluded.