Boeing Seeks More Orders Before Finalizing Indian Assembly Line

Boeing has indicated that it requires a significant increase in orders from India before it can consider establishing a final civil aircraft assembly line in the country. Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia, stated that the current market demand is insufficient to justify such a move, emphasizing the need for a much larger business case. This announcement poses challenges to the Indian government's aspirations of domestic aircraft manufacturing, which had been supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier statements. Boeing anticipates that Indian and South Asian airlines will nearly quadruple their commercial aircraft fleet over the next 20 years, driven by economic growth and improved connectivity. Despite the current situation, Boeing sources $1.25 billion in products and services from India annually and employs about 7,000 people in the region. The company is committed to gradually building its capabilities in India as market conditions evolve.