Hyderabad, Jan 31 (TNT): The curtain came down on Wings India 2026 at Begumpet Airport here on Saturday, firmly establishing the event as a barometer of India’s fast-accelerating aviation growth, marked by blockbuster aircraft orders, strategic partnerships, and strong global participation.
Anchoring the aviation momentum, Air India placed an additional order for 30 Boeing narrow-body aircraft, taking its total aircraft commitment to an unprecedented 600.
The airline also signed a long-term services agreement with Boeing for its 787 Dreamliner fleet.
In a move aimed at expanding long-haul connectivity, Air India converted 15 A321neo aircraft to the long-range A321XLR with Airbus, opening doors for new non-stop international routes.
India’s indigenous aerospace ecosystem also gained traction as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a contract with Pawan Hans Limited for the supply of 10 Dhruv NG helicopters.
Reinforcing the Make in India thrust, Sakthi Group and Omnipol entered into an MoU to introduce the L410 NG aircraft in India, including plans to explore a final assembly line.
On the airport management front, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) partnered with Airports Council International to roll out professional accreditation programmes for airport managers, aligning Indian airports with global best practices.
The event opened with a virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while the static display and exhibition areas were inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha.
High-level conferences featured global airline and aviation leaders, with discussions spanning airports, airlines, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), MROs, drones, and advanced air mobility—reflecting the sector’s evolving priorities.
The exhibition also spotlighted India’s aviation expansion story: airports have grown from 74 to 164 in the last 11 years, 92 airports have been operationalised under UDAN, 1.5 crore passengers have benefited from regional connectivity, and 1,628 pilot licences were issued in 2025 alone.
With Wings India 2026 closing on a high note, organisers announced that the next edition—Wings India 2028—will be held in the next even year, with dates and venue to be announced shortly.
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