Wings India 2026, South Asia’s largest civil aviation event, opened in Hyderabad on Wednesday, bringing together global aerospace majors and domestic aviation players, even as the event was overshadowed by the plane crash in Baramati that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The four-day event has drawn participation from 131 companies, including global aircraft manufacturers Boeing, Airbus and Embraer, as well as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Leading airlines such as Air India and IndiGo are also part of the exhibition.
A total of 34 aircraft and helicopters were showcased on the opening day for business visitors and delegates. Among the aircraft on display were HAL’s Hindustan 228 aircraft, Dhruv ALH-NG helicopter and LUH civil helicopter, Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 6X, Airbus’s H125, H160 ACH, A321 Neo and A220, and Embraer’s E175 and E195-E2 Profit Hunter.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said efforts were underway to strengthen India’s aviation manufacturing ecosystem to position the country as a global exporter of aviation components and products. He underlined the need to build domestic manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demand expected over the next 10 to 20 years.
Also read: AAI to invest ₹15,000 crore to modernise infrastructure
During the event, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Vipin Kumar announced that the AAI would invest ₹15,000 crore to upgrade air traffic control tower automation, navigational systems and other critical infrastructure. The upgrades are aimed at making India’s aviation infrastructure future-ready by 2028, he said.
Boeing, which has set up a dedicated stall at the exhibition, projected that passenger air traffic in India and South Asia would grow at an average rate of seven per cent annually over the next two decades. To cater to this growth, airlines in the region would require nearly 3,330 new aircraft by 2044, the company said.
HAL, which showcased several of its civil aviation platforms, outlined its strategy to significantly expand its presence in the civil aviation segment. The public sector aerospace major aims to increase its civil aviation footprint from the current five to six per cent to 25 per cent in the coming years through a diversified portfolio of civil aircraft.
Wings India 2026 is expected to serve as a key platform for industry leaders, policymakers and manufacturers to discuss the future trajectory of India’s rapidly expanding civil aviation sector.
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