India – Airbus has projected that India will require 35,000 commercial pilots by 2035 to support the country's rapidly expanding aviation sector, as passenger traffic and fleet size are forecast to triple over the next decade.

Speaking at Wings India 2026, Airbus India and South Asia President and Managing Director Jürgen Westermeier said India’s current pool of approximately 12,000 pilots must nearly triple to meet future demand.
The country’s commercial aircraft fleet—defined as aircraft with over 100 seats—is projected to grow from around 750 aircraft today to 2,250 by 2035, reinforcing India’s position as the world’s third-largest aviation market.
Alongside pilot growth, India will also require 34,000 trained technical personnel, up from 11,000 today, to maintain and support the expanding fleet.
The surge in demand is being driven by robust domestic air travel, increasing per capita air travel (rising from 0.13 to 0.29), and Indian carriers’ ambitions to scale international operations.

Statements

“The demand for pilots is set to surge to 35,000 by 2035, up from the current 12,000, while the technical workforce must grow to 34,000, tripling the current strength of 11,000,” said Jürgen Westermeier.
“There will be a fundamental shift in Indian consumer behaviour, with per capita air travel rising from 0.13 to 0.29 over the next decade.”

Source: Airbus

Latest 2026 Aircraft Manufacturer Forecasts India Will Need 35,000 Pilots by 2035

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