Boeing Optimistic About Dreamliner Prospects in India's Expanding Aviation Sector
American aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing foresees a surge in orders for its advanced 787 Dreamliner aircraft within the dynamic Indian aviation market, which is poised for substantial expansion in the forthcoming years. This projection comes from a senior company executive who shared insights with PTI, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in this crucial region.
Confidence Amidst Tariff Concerns and Industrial Collaboration
Despite ongoing apprehensions regarding US-imposed tariffs, Boeing India and South Asia President Salil Gupte emphasized the mutual objective of industrializing India's aerospace sector. He expressed firm belief that the aircraft manufacturer possesses the resilience to navigate these temporary obstacles successfully. "B787 has an extremely bright future in India... we look forward to potentially more orders for the 787 in India coming," Gupte stated during his interview with PTI.
Current Dreamliner Operations in Indian Airlines
In the Indian aviation landscape, Air India serves as the primary operator of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The airline's fleet currently includes thirty-three Dreamliner aircraft, comprising:
- Twenty-six legacy B787-8 models
- Six B787-9 aircraft acquired from Vistara
- The newest custom-built Dreamliner model introduced in January 2022
This newly customized Dreamliner, marking Air India's first such aircraft following privatization, is scheduled to commence commercial operations starting February 1. Additionally, IndiGo operates several Dreamliners leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, demonstrating the model's growing presence across multiple Indian carriers.
Acknowledging Recent Challenges and Investigations
The aviation community continues to process the tragic Air India flight AI171 accident that occurred on June 12 last year, involving a Dreamliner traveling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. This incident, which resulted in 260 fatalities, represents the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner aircraft. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the crash.
Gupte acknowledged that 2025 presented significant difficulties for Boeing, stating, "... as we think about the Air India AI171 accident, naturally, the victims' families, victims, and all of their loved ones remain foremost in our minds." Regarding the ongoing investigation, he noted that while the AAIB will eventually release its findings, original equipment manufacturers have limited capacity to comment during this process.
Global Demand and Competitive Landscape
The international appetite for B787 aircraft remains exceptionally strong, with Boeing delivering fourteen such planes to various airlines during 2025 alone. Gupte expressed confidence that this robust demand will persist in the coming years. When addressing increasing competition from European manufacturer Airbus, he characterized rivalry as inherent to the industry, emphasizing that "airplanes are tools for our customers to serve their customers."
"We believe that the number of routes and missions that our customers here will want to fly will grow for the B787. And we think there is an entire network of possibilities for which the B787 will be ideal," Gupte elaborated, highlighting the aircraft's versatility for India's expanding aviation network.
Long-Term Perspective on Tariff Issues
Regarding tariff concerns, Gupte drew upon Boeing's century-long history of navigating diverse challenges including world conflicts, financial crises, and various geopolitical obstacles. "Whether it is a tariff or a financial crisis or something else, in the long term, it does not affect the growth of the business... as societies become more advanced, one of the things that they do is travel more. We are confident that we will be able to see some of these short-term challenges through," he affirmed.
Boeing's Established Presence in India
India represents a significant market for Boeing, with more than 265 commercial and military aircraft currently operating across the country. The company maintains collaborative relationships with over 325 Indian suppliers, with annual sourcing exceeding $1.25 billion from the nation. Beyond Air India, Boeing aircraft feature prominently in the fleets of multiple Indian carriers including:
- Air India Express
- Akasa Air
- SpiceJet
- Vistara
- GoAir
This extensive presence underscores Boeing's deep integration within India's aviation ecosystem as the country continues its trajectory toward becoming one of the world's largest air travel markets.
