Page 28 - ITLN May June 2023 Magazine

Feature
Aerospace
Logistics

Aerospace logistics

not only needs to

scale but also develop

competence, tech

The Indian aerospace
manufacturing industry and
MRO activities are showing
clear signs of growth. However,
do we have a competent
logistics ecosystem that
supports their needs? What
are the specialised shipper
demands and how they are
responding?
Libin Chacko Kurian

n its latest commercial outlook,
Boeing noted that despite
challenges and India’s proximity
Ito the highly strategic hubs of the
Middle East global superconnectors,
the region is seeing growth returning demand and airport capacity constraints year as part of the total 72 units order.
driven by underlying fundamentals. over the next 20 years,” it added. Thus, India is becoming a huge
India has considerable widebody It was on the same line, The Tata market not only for aerospace
delivery upside potential as domiciled Group-owned Air India announced manufacturing but also for
carriers look to compete by offering plans to buy 470 widebody and single- maintenance, repair, and overhaul
point-to-point long-haul routes to meet aisle aircraft from Airbus and Boeing (MRO) activities. For example, in March
passenger preference. in February 2023. The order comprises 2023, Boeing announced an agreement
It reads, “Air travel prospects remain 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s and 10 with GMR Aero Technic to establish its
strong given demographic factors that Boeing 777-9s widebody aircraft as well first Boeing freighter conversion line in
are expected to drive higher propensity as 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 India. Indian government itself wants
to travel. In the next decade, India’s Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. to make the country an MRO hub and it
passenger market will grow to become There are reports that IndiGo, which still was expressed more explicitly through
the world’s third largest, surpassed only has 180 undelivered A320neo and 308 its policy initiatives and most recently by
by the U.S. and China.” undelivered A321neo, could announce Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh
“The dominance of an extremely an order for hundreds of Airbus aircraft during Aero India 2023.
price-competitive low-cost carrier (LCC) at the Paris Air Show to be held at Paris However, this will also require a
sector has also stimulated passenger Le Bourget Airport in June. It is looking huge amount of logistics support for
travel in India in the past decade. This for 20 widebody aircraft to expand aerospace manufacturing, movements
has led to a strong demand for single- international operations. Meanwhile, of spare parts and MRO activities and
aisle airplanes to bolster fast-growing there are more 737 Max expected to the industry is well aware of this. For
fleets. Growth in both medium and join Indian skies with Akasa Air, which instance, in March GMR Aero Technic
larger single-aisle airplanes will be already has 19 737 Max in its fleet and signed a three-year logistics service
required to meet robust passenger is expecting 12-16 aircraft deliveries per contract with Kuehne+Nagel with which
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