Airbus, the global aerospace giant, has unveiled ambitious plans to bolster its workforce in India by hiring an additional 2,000 engineers within the next two years. This move aims to elevate their total workforce in India to 5,000 employees. Rémi Maillard, President of Airbus India and Managing Director of South Asia, emphasized that the company views India as a "talent hub," going beyond its role as a market.
To solidify this commitment, Airbus recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in Vadodara. The signing ceremony was attended by the presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The primary objective of this MoU is to introduce a new engineering course tailored for the aerospace sector.
Maillard highlighted Airbus's dedication to fostering the aerospace ecosystem in India and recognized the importance of investing in human capital development. The collaboration with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is expected to nurture a robust pipeline of skilled professionals ready to cater to the burgeoning aerospace sector's needs.
In response to a question from TOI about the company's hiring strategy for Indian engineers, Maillard stated, "As of today, we employ more than 3,000 engineers in our design and digital centers. By 2025, we will exceed 5,000. We are progressing rapidly because we believe in India's blend of competency and competitiveness."
Maillard announced that the first Make-In-India C295 Military Aircraft is slated for delivery in September 2026. Airbus has already secured a contract for 56 C295 aircraft with the Indian Air Force, with 40 of them set to be fully manufactured, assembled, and maintained within India. The remaining 16 aircraft will arrive in a fly-away condition from Spain.