Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Thales Positions Itself for India’s Booming Aviation Growth
Thales is a French company that makes technology for airplanes and airports.
It believes India’s airline industry is growing quickly.
Indian airlines have more than 1,600 airplanes on order.
Their fleets are also expected to become much larger in the coming years.
Thales wants to help supply and maintain airplane technology.
It already has more than 2,400 employees in India and a repair facility in Gurugram.
Air India and IndiGo have signed important agreements with the company.
Thales is also using more artificial intelligence and may use solutions created in India elsewhere in the world.
Thales says India’s growing passenger market and expanding airline fleets create major opportunities for avionics.
Thales employs more than 2,400 people in India, including over 1,800 engineers in Noida and Bengaluru.
The company operates an avionics maintenance and repair facility in Gurugram.
Thales has contracts with Air India and IndiGo covering inflight entertainment and avionics maintenance.
Thales is using more Artificial Intelligence in development work and sees potential to replicate Indian solutions globally.
- Who
- Thales, led in this discussion by Avionics Executive Vice President Yannick Assouad, and Indian airlines including Air India and IndiGo.
- What
- Thales is expanding its focus on India’s civil aviation market, including avionics, maintenance, inflight entertainment and airport security solutions.
- When
- The comments were made in a recent interview; related contracts were announced in April and September 2025.
- Where
- India, including Thales facilities in Noida and Bengaluru, and its maintenance facility in Gurugram.
- Why
- India’s passenger market and airline fleets are growing, with Indian airlines having more than 1,600 aircraft on order.
- Company
- Thales, a French aerospace, defence, cyber and digital technology company
- Indian workforce
- More than 2,400 employees, including over 1,800 engineers
- Indian locations
- Facilities in Noida and Bengaluru, plus an MRO facility in Gurugram
- Air India agreement
- A 10-year FlytCARE maintenance agreement for Thales AVANT Up inflight entertainment systems
- IndiGo agreement
- An 11-year avionics maintenance support contract signed in September 2025
- Market indicator
- Indian airlines have more than 1,600 aircraft on order
- Technology focus
- Thales is increasing its use of Artificial Intelligence in development work