India Plans Up to $80B Boeing Aircraft Orders After US Trade Deal

India is reportedly prepared to place aircraft orders worth up to $80 billion with Boeing, as New Delhi and Washington move forward on a broad trade framework aimed at deepening economic ties and boosting bilateral commerce. The announcement was made by Piyush Goyal, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, in early February 2026, ahead of a formal trade agreement expected to be signed in March 2026.

Goyal said India’s total demand for aircraft could reach nearly $70 billion to $80 billion once orders are finalised, with additional imports of engines and spare parts potentially pushing the value of aviation-related imports from the United States past $100 billion.

These planned purchases would represent one of the largest commercial aircraft procurement pipelines linked to a single country and underscore India’s rapidly expanding aviation market.

The possible Boeing order is tied to a broader trade understanding between New Delhi and Washington. Officials from both countries have said they will issue an initial joint statement within days that would trigger tariff changes, including a reduction of US tariffs on Indian exports from 50 % to 18 %. A formal agreement, likely to be signed by mid-March, would pave the way for India to lower duties on selected US imports, including aviation products, and strengthen economic cooperation.

While Goyal’s remarks signal India’s readiness to place substantial aircraft orders, he also emphasised that the current framework does not include specific investment commitments by India in the United States. The emphasis is on purchases, not direct investment, as part of the widening trade relationship.

The timing of these statements comes shortly after India concluded a separate trade agreement with the European Union, highlighting New Delhi’s broader efforts to diversify trade partnerships and access advanced technology and equipment.

The scale of India’s aircraft ambitions reflects its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, driven by strong demand for both domestic and international air travel. Indian carriers already have significant aircraft backlogs, and major orders placed in recent years — such as the landmark 2023 Air India agreement for nearly 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing — illustrate the depth of demand.

For Boeing, securing large-scale orders from India would bolster its medium-term commercial outlook and help support production programs that have faced pressure in recent years. Investors have reacted positively to the prospect of renewed order momentum, viewing the potential Indian purchases as a significant tailwind for the company’s backlog and deliveries.

While the specifics of the upcoming aircraft orders are still being negotiated, India’s stated readiness signals a major opportunity for both global aerospace markets and the strengthening of US-India economic ties in the aviation sector.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com