Gandhinagar: The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, in association with FICCI and with the support of International Financial Services Centres Authority, organised the India Aircraft Leasing & Financing Summit 2.0 at GIFT City, reaffirming India’s vision to emerge as a global hub for aviation leasing and financing.
The summit brought together policymakers, investors, financial institutions, airlines, aircraft lessors and global aviation stakeholders to strengthen the aircraft leasing ecosystem in GIFT IFSC and accelerate India’s aviation financing capabilities through global best practices and strategic collaborations.
Addressing the summit, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said India’s aviation sector was witnessing unprecedented growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He stated that GIFT City had established a strong global identity in the fintech and financial services segment and was emerging as a major centre for aircraft leasing, aviation-linked investments and advanced mobility solutions.
“India’s aviation fleets are largely leased from overseas markets. To strengthen the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, aircraft leasing activities must increasingly happen from GIFT City,” he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted that over 370 aviation assets worth USD 5.8 billion had already been leased through GIFT City and also pointed to Gujarat’s expanding aviation infrastructure, including the upcoming Dholera Greenfield Airport project.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu said India had become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market and leasing would play a critical role in supporting the sector’s future expansion.
“Nearly 85% of India’s scheduled airline fleet is currently on lease. With demand rising rapidly, we want leasing activities to increasingly take place within India, especially from GIFT City,” he said.
The minister noted that the Government of India had introduced several reforms to strengthen the aviation leasing ecosystem, including the ratification of the Cape Town Convention and legislative reforms aimed at improving investor confidence and financing efficiency.
Highlighting the government’s long-term aviation roadmap, the minister announced that the UDAN regional connectivity scheme would be extended for another 10 years with an investment of around Rs. 29,000 crore, including the development of nearly 200 heliports across the country.
Jürgen Westermeier, Chairman of the FICCI Civil Aviation Committee and President & MD of Airbus India and South Asia, said India’s aviation and aerospace industry was poised for long-term expansion driven by strong passenger growth and record aircraft orders.
He stated that India’s air passenger traffic was expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 9% over the next decade, while aircraft financing requirements could reach USD 170–200 billion during the same period.
“India’s order backlog currently exceeds 1,600 aircraft, which is more than double the existing operational fleet, creating significant opportunities for both Indian and global lessors and financiers,” he added.
During the summit, multiple announcements and Memorandums of Understanding involving airlines including IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, Star Air, Bank of India and IFSCA were signed, reflecting growing momentum in India’s aircraft leasing and aviation finance ecosystem.
The summit also featured focused discussions on establishing a robust aircraft lessor ecosystem in GIFT IFSC and bridging financial gaps in aviation financing through policy support and investment frameworks.