Indian Aviation Sector Offers Huge Opportunities for MSMEs

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said India’s aviation sector is creating significant opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Speaking at a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he said efforts were underway to increase the participation of Indian suppliers in the global aerospace market. He stressed that India should not remain limited to being an assembly hub but should also emerge as a destination for aerospace component design, certification and manufacturing. Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha said the government was examining various models for aircraft manufacturing in the country. Boeing India and South Asia President Salil Gupte said Boeing procures products and services worth around ₹14,000 crore annually from India. The company has nearly 300 suppliers in the country, with MSMEs accounting for around 25% of them.

Meanwhile, the government and aviation regulator DGCA are closely monitoring the financial and operational condition of budget airline SpiceJet, Naidu said. The airline has witnessed a significant decline in both its fleet size and share of the domestic aviation market. The carrier is also facing financial challenges and has reportedly struggled to pay salaries to employees on time. The government’s focus on the airline comes amid efforts to monitor its operational stability and financial health.