Bengaluru: Annett Baessler, deputy consul general of the German Consulate General in Bengaluru, highlighted the potential of the proposed EU–India Free Trade Agreement to significantly boost collaboration in the aviation sector.Speaking at the 9th International Conference on the Future of Aviation and Aerospace 2026, hosted by IIM Bangalore in partnership with TBS Education, France, she emphasized opportunities in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), workforce development, and deeper sectoral integration, which could create a strong new momentum between India and Europe. She noted that Europe’s highly integrated aviation market gives German and European companies a competitive edge globally. India, currently the fifth-largest aviation market, is expected to become the third-largest within a decade and is emerging as a major manufacturing and design hub. European firms are actively supporting this growth, with Airbus alone holding around 1,250 aircraft orders from Indian clients. Additionally, India’s MRO sector is projected to reach $9.5 billion in the coming decade. Prof S Raghunath, conference chair at IIMB, said, “Our opportunity lies in leading in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), as well as lifecycle intelligence. This is an area where we are more than capable. For decades, we have been the IT backbone of the world. Given that strength, it is not difficult for us to recognise a simple reality: While aircraft sales generate revenue, far greater value lies in keeping those aircraft operational. We already have the technology, the engineering talent, and the skilled workforce needed to capitalise on it.”Sunil Bhaskaran, director of Air India Aviation Academy, Air India, while participating in a panel discussion on “Market Potential of Aviation and Aerospace in India,” observed that the penetration of air travel in India is still at about one-tenth of its population, indicating immense potential for growth. Addressing the gathering during a panel discussion on “Make in India – The Achievements of Indian Companies,” Kota Harinarayana, former programme director and chief designer of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, said, “Three decades ago, India took the initiative to launch Tejas in military aviation, and today, we not only produce quality combat aircraft in numbers, but we are also developing the ecosystem – manufacturing, technology, and supply chains. In the next two decades, a range of state-of-the-art combat aircraft will be produced indigenously.” However, he noted that civil aviation required similar focus.
