Aerospace major Airbus has inaugurated its new Airbus India Technology Centre (AITC) in Bengaluru, marking a significant expansion of the company’s engineering and digital capabilities in India. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu attended the event virtually and highlighted the growing importance of India’s aerospace ecosystem during the inauguration.
Spread across nearly 8.8 lakh square feet, the new campus has the capacity to accommodate around 5,000 employees, making it one of Airbus’s largest engineering and digital centres outside Europe. The facility will function as a key hub for engineering, digital transformation, customer services and procurement, strengthening Airbus’s long-term strategy in India.
The technology centre was formally inaugurated in Bengaluru by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and Industries and Infrastructure Minister M. B. Patil, with senior Airbus executives including Catherine Jestin, Executive Vice President (Digital), and Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director for Airbus India and South Asia, present at the event.
In a message shared on social media during the virtual ceremony, Civil Aviation Minister Naidu described Bengaluru as the “aviation, aerospace and defence manufacturing capital of the country.” He said the launch of the Airbus campus further strengthens the city’s position as a global aviation hub and reflects international confidence in India’s technological capabilities.
The minister also noted that the new campus would play a vital role in Airbus’s operations in India, with Indian engineers expected to contribute to the design and development of critical technologies used in Airbus aircraft and helicopters. According to him, the centre will act as a nerve centre for the company’s technological work in the country.
Airbus said the Bengaluru facility is a cornerstone of its ‘Make in India’ strategy, bringing together multiple functions under one roof to support global aircraft programmes. The company’s engineering teams in India are already involved in the lifecycle of Airbus aircraft, including design, digital tools, maintenance optimisation and systems development.
The new campus also houses a dedicated customer services centre that will provide technical and operational support to Airbus operators worldwide, including tailored support programmes and flight-hour services.
Airbus has steadily increased its sourcing from India in recent years. The company’s annual procurement from Indian suppliers has grown from about $500 million in 2019 to over $1.5 billion, and it aims to exceed $2 billion before the end of the decade, reflecting India’s expanding role in the global aerospace supply chain.
With India emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and Indian airlines placing large aircraft orders in recent years, Airbus’s expanded presence in Bengaluru is expected to deepen technological collaboration and strengthen the country’s position in the global aviation and aerospace industry.
