GE Aerospace to Double India Supplier Spend by 2030
GE Aerospace plans to nearly double its Indian supplier expenditure by 2030 to fuel the country's booming aviation and defence sectors.
In a massive boost to India's manufacturing and aviation ecosystem, GE Aerospace has announced plans to nearly double its spending on Indian suppliers between 2025 and 2030. This strategic move aims to fortify the domestic supply chain as the nation's aviation sector undergoes an unprecedented period of expansion.
The announcement coincided with the release of a landmark report by Ernst & Young (EY) titled 'Powering Progress: GE Aerospace's Economic Impact in India'. The report evaluates the company's four-decade-long contribution to India’s commercial aviation, defence, manufacturing, and engineering sectors.
Massive Investment in Local Supply Chains
According to the findings, GE Aerospace's expenditure on its Indian supply chain stood at approximately USD 200 million in 2025. To keep pace with the skyrocketing demand for aircraft and engine technology, the company intends to double this figure by the end of the decade. This expansion is expected to benefit a wide range of domestic partners, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The surge in spending comes at a time when India's commercial aviation sector is generating massive revenue. For the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), domestic airlines generated roughly USD 19 billion. GE Aerospace's technology currently powers a significant portion of this sector, with a fleet of more than 1,400 engines supporting Indian commercial operations as of December 2025.
Fueling India's Aviation Efficiency
The impact of GE Aerospace's technology is visible in the record-breaking performance metrics of Indian carriers. The report highlights that these engines have helped Indian airlines achieve:
- A passenger load factor of 88.2%, which is the highest recorded globally.
- Aircraft utilisation rates of 12 to 14 hours per day, significantly outpacing global averages.
Vikram Rai, CEO of South Asia for GE Aerospace, noted that the company's footprint in India is diverse, ranging from component manufacturing in Pune to high-end engineering and innovation in Bengaluru. He emphasized that increasing supplier spending is a critical step in helping India achieve its "Viksit Bharat" ambitions by building a next-generation aerospace industry.
A Sky Full of Opportunity: The Road to 2047
The scale of upcoming demand in the Indian subcontinent is staggering. Government estimates suggest that annual domestic passenger traffic could soar to 1.1 billion by 2040, a massive jump from the 340 million recorded in FY26. Furthermore, India's airport network is projected to expand from 163 to more than 350 airports by 2047.
To support this growth, the following requirements have been identified:
- Aircraft Demand: India and South Asia will need approximately 3,300 additional aircraft by 2044.
- Engine Demand: This translates to a requirement for roughly 6,600 additional engines.
- MRO Growth: The influx of new aircraft presents a USD 5.5 billion opportunity for India's Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) industry.
The momentum is already building. In July 2026, IndiGo entered into a memorandum of understanding with CFM International for an order of over 1,000 LEAP-1A engines to power 510 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. This historic deal also includes provisions to support IndiGo's upcoming engine MRO facility, further cementing India's potential as a regional hub for aviation maintenance.