India’s Aviation Boom Could Support Another International Hub, Says Air India CEO Campbell Wilson

India’s aviation sector is expanding so rapidly that the nation could sustain at least one additional international hub besides Mumbai and Delhi, according to Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India. 

“India has the potential to accommodate at least three hubs and a plethora of point-to-point services,” remarked Wilson. 

“There are few markets globally akin to India. Northern India witnesses a substantial east to west flow, whereas southern India can facilitate flows from Asia to Africa or Australia-Europe,” he added. 

Last year, Air India made one of the largest-ever jet purchases in aviation history, ordering 470 aircraft from Airbus SE and Boeing. 

India boasts a burgeoning consumer class and economic growth that could position it as one of the world’s largest travel markets, as per Bloomberg. 

In addition to the leading carrier IndiGo and the emerging airline Akasa, Indian airlines have placed orders for over 1,100 aircraft, with investments of approximately USD two billion earmarked for the construction of over 72 new airports by 2025. 

Over the past six months, Air India has been receiving one new aircraft every six days, with a continuation of this trend expected over the next 12 months. 

“This month, it has taken delivery of 11 new Boeing 777s, three Airbus A350s and around 15 Boeing 737 Maxs. Retrofitting of existing widebodies should be completed by the end of 2025 or 2026,” informed Wilson. 

“At the time of privatisation, Air India had 43 wide-body aircraft for a population of 1.3 billion,” he added. 

“Singapore had 150 wide-body aircraft, Dubai had 250. That gives you an idea of how underserved the Indian market was by Indian airlines.” 

As part of parent Tata Group’s strategy to revamp Air India, low-cost carriers Air India Express and AIX Connect will be amalgamated into a single entity, while Air India and Vistara will be merged into another. 

Earlier this month, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore sanctioned the merger between Air India and Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and the Tata Group. 

Singapore Airlines will acquire a 25.1 per cent stake in the expanded entity, disclosed Wilson on Wednesday. 

“For the full-service carrier, we have obtained all the necessary competition clearances, so our teams are collaborating, exchanging information and devising plans for the merged entity,” stated Wilson. 

Air India’s transformation program, which includes a rebranding campaign to rejuvenate the carrier’s image, has been underway for the past 18 months. While the initial six months were primarily dedicated to addressing past issues, the focus over the last year has been on establishing systems, personnel, processes and equipment, noted Wilson. 

“We have recruited nearly 5,000 personnel in the last 18 months, reducing the average age from 54 to 35 years,” remarked Wilson, adding that the airline’s IT systems had to be reconstructed from scratch when Tata Group assumed control from the government.