WASHINGTON, D.C.: Boeing expects airlines in India and South Asia to expand their fleets significantly over the next two decades, adding 2,835 commercial aircraft, a four-fold increase from current levels. 

This growth is driven by a rising middle class and strong economic expansion, the company said.

Boeing's latest 20-year market outlook reflects an upward revision from its previous forecast of 2,705 aircraft issued last year.

"People will have greater access to air travel, and the region's airlines will require a modern fuel-efficient fleet to meet increased demand over the next two decades," said Ashwin Naidu, Boeing's managing director of commercial marketing for India and South Asia.

According to Boeing's estimates, 2,445 of the new aircraft will be single-aisle planes, accounting for roughly 90 percent of total deliveries, while the widebody fleet is expected to quadruple with the addition of 370 aircraft. The company also forecasts that air traffic in the region will grow by more than seven percent annually through 2043.

India, the world's third-largest domestic aviation market after the U.S. and China, continues to lead global growth, with IndiGo and Air India dominating the sector. Currently, Indian airlines have around 1,800 aircraft on order and are set to receive 130 new jets this year, according to data from Cirium Ascend.

Despite strong demand, airlines worldwide are facing delays in aircraft deliveries due to ongoing supply chain challenges affecting production at both Boeing and Airbus.

Boeing's aircraft deliveries hit their lowest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2024, partly due to a crippling strike, but the company said last month it is making progress in ramping up production. Airbus, meanwhile, narrowly missed its 2024 delivery target.

Boeing noted that the Indian aviation sector also faces key challenges, including currency fluctuations, volatile jet fuel prices, lower-than-average global airfares, and an imbalance in long-haul market share compared to foreign carriers.