India's aviation sector is on the brink of massive expansion but faces a critical bottleneck: a severe shortage of widebody aircraft, according to Willie Walsh, the incoming chief executive of IndiGo.
Walsh, who will take the helm at India's largest airline in August after completing his term as director general of the International Air Transport Association, described the country's fleet of just 50 widebody planes as a "scandal" given India's size and growth potential.
"When you think about it, it's a country of 1.4 billion and counting. But they only had 50 widebody aircraft in the country last year," Walsh told the BBC. "So that's probably—you could describe it as a scandal. They should be much bigger than that. And I think they will be much bigger that going forward."
Widebody aircraft, larger twin-aisle planes designed for long-haul routes, are essential for non-stop international travel. Walsh highlighted a significant opportunity for Indian carriers to expand their global footprint beyond current reliance on Gulf hubs for connections to North America and other regions.
"India has depended on transferring people over the Gulf hubs, particularly into North America," Walsh said. "So that's a huge opportunity for Indian carriers to grow their presence on the global scale."
Walsh's comments come as IndiGo recovers from its largest disruption in 20 years. In December, the airline canceled approximately 4,500 flights, stranding thousands of passengers after new pilot duty regulations exposed staffing shortages. Walsh declined to comment specifically on IndiGo's operations, noting he hasn't officially started his role, but offered a broad assessment of India's aviation landscape.
"I'm not going to really comment on it because I haven't started there until August," he said. "So I can comment about India in general, but not IndiGo specifically."
Despite current challenges, Walsh expressed strong confidence in India's aviation future, pointing to strong fundamentals including population size, geography, and improving infrastructure.
"When you look at that, 1.4 billion people, the geography of the country, the demographics, everything points to the needs and the desire to see greater connectivity by air," Walsh said. "India's aviation sector has been fascinating to watch in recent years."
Walsh also addressed broader industry challenges, including energy security concerns stemming from India's position as a major oil importer and refiner. He noted that jet fuel supply has been affected by restrictions linked to the war in Ukraine, which could prompt a broader rethink on energy policy.
"I'd like to think that this will encourage governments again to evaluate the advantage of renewable energy," Walsh said, expressing disappointment at price increases for sustainable aviation fuel that he attributed to suppliers taking advantage of market conditions.
Despite these challenges, Walsh remained optimistic about demand fundamentals and India's growth trajectory.
"I've been a long supporter and admirer of what's happening in India," Walsh said. "The investment that the airlines have made, the investment that the governments have made in the infrastructure there. The opportunity for India is actually to provide direct international connectivity from India to the world."