Boeing is exploring India as a strategic location for research and development and supply chain operations as the aerospace company seeks to recover from recent safety challenges and rejuvenate its business.
The company plans to strengthen partnerships with local firms to enhance its sourcing capabilities and expand its presence in aircraft maintenance and training. This move aims to help Boeing compete more effectively with Airbus, which has outpaced it in securing new aircraft orders in India.
Chris Raymond, Boeing’s Executive Vice President, highlighted the significant potential of the Indian market, noting that increased GDP often correlates with rising air travel demand. “We forecast a substantial market here, with projections indicating the need for over 3,000 aircraft in the region. This growth will require around 130,000 additional trained personnel, including pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance experts,” Raymond told reporters.
Raymond, who oversees Boeing’s global services unit—established as a separate entity in 2018—mentioned the company’s recent investment of approximately ₹1,600 crore in a new engineering and technology center in Bengaluru. This facility, is it’s largest investment outside the US, focuses on advanced cabin products and includes a digital experience center to engage global customers in product development.
Boeing also plans to expand its network of suppliers in India, which currently includes 300 partners, and establish new warehouses to store parts locally. These efforts are part of Boeing’s broader strategy to ramp up aircraft production, which has faced delays due to global supply chain issues and heightened regulatory scrutiny following incidents with the 737 Max aircraft.
