Indian carriers are expected to have an order book for 2,000 planes by March next year, with long-term rapid growth for both domestic and international air traffic, according to a report on Friday. The domestic airlines currently have an order book for close to 1,620 aircraft, including the 150 narrow-body Boeing 737 Max order announced by Akasa Air on Thursday, aviation research and consulting firm CAPA India said on Friday. 

This order book, however, did not include SpiceJet as well as grounded carrier Go First, CAPA India said. 

This increase, according to CAPA India, will be achieved as a result of Air India converting some of its 370 options to firm orders every few months, supplemented by possible further orders by other Indian carriers. 

In 2023, Indian airlines had ordered more aircraft than those from any other country. And the total order book for Western aircraft was second only to the United States, it stated. 

“India is set to be the most exciting aviation market of the 21^st century, with long-term rapid growth for both domestic and international traffic,” it said. 

However, in order to support this once-in-a-generation growth, and the eventual induction of this expanding order book, Indian aviation would need further structural and institutional reforms, CAPA India noted.