India’s aviation growth is pushing beyond fleet additions toward questions of endurance, utilisation, and long-term support. From engines powering high-frequency domestic routes to platforms enabling long-haul expansion, the emphasis is on reliability, operating economics, and lifecycle depth. Manufacturing and engineering capabilities in India—spanning component production, supply-chain resilience, and advanced research—are increasingly linked to global programmes rather than confined to local demand. This perspective frames how Vikram Rai, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, GE Aerospace, views India’s role in commercial aviation: not only as a fast-growing market, but as a sustained operational and industrial pillar within the company’s global ecosystem.
India is among the fastest-growing civil aviation markets. In what ways is GE Aerospace tailoring its commercial engine strategy to align with India’s unique growth trajectory?
India’s civil aviation growth is marked by scale, strong momentum, and an evolving ambition to expand to long-haul expansion. Our commercial engine strategy is shaped around these factors.
Photo: GE Aerospace
We are already supporting India’s narrow-body expansion through CFM LEAP engines, while enabling long-haul growth with proven wide-body platforms such as the GEnx.
Known for its fuel efficiency, durability, and strong time-on-wing performance, the GEnx is well suited for Indian carriers who currently or plan to operate on high-utilisation international routes.
As airline networks extend beyond major hubs, reliability and operating economics become even more important. Our continued investment in advanced materials, engine architecture, and digital tools helps airlines protect schedule integrity while operating some of the world’s newest, most efficient fleets.
Can you outline how GE Aerospace works with Indian airlines across the engine lifecycle, from fleet selection through long-term in-country maintenance and support?
GE Aerospace works closely with Indian airlines across the full engine lifecycle, from early fleet planning decisions through long-term maintenance and support.
Our partnerships extend to using some of our most advanced services technologies including artificial intelligence for predictive analytics, digital inspections, and proactive parts planning, helping airlines manage high utilization while minimizing disruption. For wide-body operators, the GEnx is an example of how we enable dependable long-haul operations, supported by cutting-edge technology, proven reliability, and data-driven maintenance approaches designed to maximize time on wing.
Building strong in-country capability is central to this effort, backed by local engineering teams and a growing supplier ecosystem in support of local manufacturing at Pune and for our global supply chain. Together, these help our customer airlines maintain operational performance as fleets continue to scale.
What role does GE Aerospace’s Pune facility play in global engine programs such as LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X, and how does it support the growth of Indian airline fleets?
GE Aerospace’s Pune facility plays a vital role in our global commercial engine programs, including LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X. The site produces complex engine components that support some of the most widely deployed aircraft platforms in service today. Over the past two years, we have announced more than USD 44 million in new investments, including a recent USD 14 million commitment, to expand our footprint and introduce new manufacturing processes.
As commercial fleets expand, the Pune Manufacturing Facility’s role in strengthening supply chain resilience becomes increasingly important. Fully integrated into GE Aerospace’s global production system, the facility supports engine programs worldwide with consistent standards safety and quality.
How does GE Aerospace’s commercial aerospace footprint in India contribute to the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives across investment, talent, and local production?
GE Aerospace actively supports the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives through sustained investment in aerospace manufacturing and engineering, talent development. Our commercial aerospace footprint includes local production, advanced engineering capabilities, and a growing supplier ecosystem connected to global programs.
We work closely with Indian suppliers to help scale their capabilities enabling deeper participation in the global aerospace supply chain.
What commercial aviation R&D and product engineering activities are currently being led from GE Aerospace’s India Technology Centre in Bengaluru?
GE Aerospace investing USD 2.7 billion globally in R&D in 2024, Our engineers in India are deeply integrated into global development programs, strengthening local expertise while directly supporting the performance needs of India’s expanding commercial fleets. Bengaluru is a key hub for commercial aviation research and product engineering. Our team works across both wide-body and narrow-body engine programs used by Indian airlines, contributing to advanced materials, engine components, and industrialisation technologies.
The centre plays a significant role in ensuring engine safety, durability, reliability, and maintainability.
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