India’s Aviation Boom Puts $80B Boeing Order on the Table… Right as Trade Talks Hit Crunch Time

India may be preparing to place a major aircraft order with Boeing, with government officials saying purchases could reach as much as $80 billion as part of an upcoming trade agreement with the U.S.

India’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said New Delhi is “ready” to move forward with aircraft orders that have not yet been placed. When engines, spare parts, and long-term servicing are included, total aviation-related imports from the U.S. could exceed $100 billion, according to Goyal.

The comments come as the U.S. and India work toward signing a joint statement within the next few days that would lock in the first phase of a new trade deal. A more formal agreement is expected to follow in mid-March, at which point tariff changes would take effect.

India’s airline market has been expanding rapidly as passenger demand rebounds and carriers look to add capacity. Airlines are also under pressure to modernize fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft, creating a large pipeline of potential demand for both Boeing and its European rival Airbus.

Still, officials stressed that no final purchase commitments have been made. Goyal said the aircraft orders remain under discussion and are not formally tied to the trade deal itself.

The talks also arrive while Boeing continues to face legal scrutiny in India. Families of passengers who died in last year’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad are suing the company over allegations involving defective dual switches. The case is ongoing and could complicate relations with regulators and airlines in the country.

On Monday, Donald Trump said on social media that Washington and New Delhi had reached a trade agreement. Trump claimed the U.S. would reduce tariffs on Indian exports to 18%, while India would eliminate duties on U.S. goods, stop importing Russian oil, and commit to buying $500 billion worth of American products over the next five years.

Indian officials have not confirmed several of those claims. While they acknowledged tariff reductions as part of the agreement, they did not confirm zero-duty access for U.S. goods, oil import changes, or a firm $500 billion purchasing commitment.

The lack of clarity has drawn criticism at home. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of conceding too much on tariffs without providing enough detail about the deal’s benefits.

Trade analysts have also questioned whether the $500 billion figure is realistic. India imported about $720 billion in goods last year, with roughly $45 billion coming from the U.S., meaning a dramatic increase would be required to meet that target.

From Boeing’s perspective, that makes India a long-term opportunity rather than an immediate fix. Aircraft demand is growing, and even partial orders would be significant. But until contracts are signed, the impact remains theoretical.

At the time of publishing this article, Stocks.News doesn’t hold positions in companies mentioned in the article.