Aviation and India

Many people are familiar with aviation. Some are familiar with India. We bring the two together in a practical way.

We open doors for aviation and aerospace companies looking to grow in India. With over 20 years of operational experience in India and direct access to top-tier aviation experts from airlines, airports, ground handling, and cargo.

Why Now? Why India?

India is no ordinary growth market—it is a structural megatrend. It is driven by the growth of the middle class, a government infrastructure push, and the political will to promote localization. For companies entering the market now, opportunities are opening up that will no longer exist in this form five years from now.

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~150

Neue Flughäfen

bis 2040 geplant – massiver staatlicher Infrastrukturausbau

>$4 Mrd.

MRO-Markt

bis 2031 mit ~12% CAGR – eines der dynamischsten Segmente weltweit

~1.500

Neue Flugzeuge

im Orderbook indischer Airlines – Nachfrage auf Rekordniveau

12%

Jährliches MRO-Wachstum

strukturell, nicht konjunkturell – getrieben durch Flottenausbau

100%

FDI möglich

für Greenfield MRO / Aerospace – volle ausländische Direktinvestition erlaubt

#3

Luftfahrtmarkt weltweit

Indien wird drittgrößter Luftfahrtmarkt weltweit bis 2030

WB combines hands-on aviation experience with many years of expertise in India—ensuring sound decision-making and seamless on-site implementation.

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I’m interested in India. But getting started raises a lot of questions.

We’ve heard this in many conversations: There’s interest—but also uncertainty. Which partner can we really rely on? What does DGCA certification actually mean for our product? How long does it really take—not officially, but in practice? That’s exactly where we come in.

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✚

Was viele in Indien erleben

  • Partner-Empfehlungen ohne persönliche Einschätzung aus dem Netzwerk
  • Marktstudien, die den operativen Alltag nicht abbilden
  • Aviation-Beratung ohne echtes Indien-Verständnis
  • Indien-Beratung ohne Aviation-spezifische Tiefe
  • Timelines, die die regulatorische Realität Indiens unterschätzen
  • Strategien, die auf dem Papier funktionieren – und vor Ort ins Stocken geraten
✓

Was WB anders macht

  • Operative Aviation-Tiefe: Airline, Airport, Ground Handling, MRO
  • 20+ Jahre gelebte Indien-Marktverantwortung – kein „India Office“
  • Tiefes Verständnis der Entscheidungsstrukturen bei Flughafenbetreibern, DGCA und AAI
  • Ehrliche Timelines inklusive politischer & regulatorischer Realität
  • Netzwerk zu Aviation-Experten mit Exekutiv-Verantwortung auf 4 Kontinenten
  • WB-Unterbau: Compliance, FEMA, Companies Act, DGCA aus einer Hand

Our Service Portfolio for Aviation Companies in India

Organized according to the critical phases of market entry—from the initial market assessment to operational excellence on the ground.

Market & Segment Analysis

No generic growth figures. An honest assessment: Is your specific segment—MRO, supply chain, airport infrastructure, or cargo—worth pursuing? Includes competitor profiling and a realistic ROI estimate.

Partner Strategy & Joint Venture Structuring

Long list → Short list → Recommendation. Thorough due diligence: finances, reputation, ownership, political connections. Personal assessment based on 20+ years of on-the-ground networking.

Recruiting & Organization

Where can you find qualified aircraft maintenance engineers? How can you retain them long-term? Building HR structures, providing training, and developing management skills on-site.

MRO Strategy & Infrastructure

Establishment of MRO facilities, turnaround optimization, parts logistics. We’ll connect you with the right decision-makers—at airport operators, government agencies, and public authorities.

Supply Chain Localization

“Make in India” for Aerospace Suppliers: Supplier Qualification, AS9100, Supplier Development, Parts Logistics (Import/Export), Certification Strategy.

Risk Management & Governance

Identify political, regulatory, and operational risks early on. Transparency monitoring, compliance structures, crisis management—supported by WB Risk Prevention Systems.

Regulatory & Compliance

DGCA Certifications Step by Step – with Realistic Timelines. EASA ↔ DGCA Equivalence, Import/Customs, PLI Scheme, Site and Permit Navigation for Facilities Near Airports.

Market Research & Stakeholder Analysis

Before we make recommendations, we listen. Structured market surveys, stakeholder mapping, and political risk assessments serve as the basis for our decisions.

Our 6-Phase Approach to Aviation in India

India is not a short-term project—but it is one with high returns. We’ll guide you every step of the way, from your initial inquiry to establishing a sustainable market position.

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Phase 5
Phase 6

Phase 1:
Market Opportunities

Market research, gathering reliable data and information, evaluating genuine potential, and honestly assessing the effort and risks involved

Phase 2:
Structural Development

Establishing sales, purchasing, production, and logistics operations; plant operations; supplier, location, and real estate searches; organizational and process optimization; company formation; personnel recruitment and HR in India; recruiting skilled workers from India; training and development for management and staff

Phase 3:
Operations

Finance, Taxes, Compliance, Controlling, Advisory Board, Standardization of Processes & Continuous Improvement, Transparency Monitoring & Risk Prevention

Phase 4:
Change & Expansion

Expansion & Optimization, Change & Expansion of Structures, Addition of New Activities, Change in Strategy, New Beginning

Phase 5:
Challenges

Resolving Acute Problems, Adjusting Objectives, Crisis and Interim Management, Turnaround Management, Partial Closure, or Relocation

Phase 6:
Reorganization

Dismantling of structures, strategic withdrawal, closure of locations, dissolution of the company, reorientation

People who have firsthand knowledge of aviation and India

Experience gained in real-world operational situations and through leadership of international teams and locations.

Werner Heesen

  • Aviation Expert
  • Former Lufthansa Group

13+ years as Director of South Asia at Lufthansa. Operational responsibility for the airline, airport, and infrastructure in India—making decisions in real time, not in consultation mode.

Focus: Airline Operations, the Indian Market, Crisis Management

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Bernd Hildebrand

  • Aviation Expert
  • Former Lufthansa Group

Over 40 years of aviation experience across 4 continents, with leadership responsibility for up to 4,000 employees. Ground handling, airport operations, international expansion.

Focus: Ground Handling, Airport Operations, International Structures

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Christian Altmann

  • Aviation Expert
  • Former Lufthansa Group

Regional Director covering Russia through New Zealand. International regulatory expertise, carrier strategies, and operational expertise spanning multiple continents.

Focus: Carrier Strategy, Regulation, International Markets

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Atul Suri

  • VP Advisory & Projects
  • Contact Person

25+ years of EU-India business advisory experience. Former lead of the EU-India Aviation Cluster (EBTC). Combines hands-on aviation experience with full responsibility for the Indian market.

Focus: EU-India Corridor, Aviation Policy, Stakeholder Network

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