Airbus Establishes Global Co-Pilot Centre in Bengaluru as India Sourcing Tops $1.5 Billion

Airbus Expands India Operations with New Technology Centre

March 6, 2024 - Airbus inaugurated its new Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengaluru, India, marking a significant expansion of its engineering, digital, and procurement capabilities in the region.

The Airbus India GCC spans across 880,000 sq ft, serving as a hub for engineering, digital transformation, customer services, and procurement functions. This facility will enable the company to scale its technological competencies and innovation ecosystem, supporting customer services and procurement operations tied to its Make in India ambitions.

Key Highlights

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• The centre will house approximately 5,000 employees, solidifying Airbus' presence in India.
• The company's annual sourcing from India has grown from $500 million in 2019 to over $1.5 billion currently, with expectations to exceed $2 billion by the end of the decade.
• Over 100 Indian companies are part of Airbus' supply ecosystem, manufacturing components such as flap track beams, aircraft doors, and helicopter fuselages.

Strategic Expansion

Airbus' engineering presence in Bengaluru has evolved over the past two decades, transforming from a specialized unit to a large multi-functional centre. The new campus consolidates engineering and innovation, digital capabilities, customer services, and procurement operations under one roof. Engineers and digital specialists based in India contribute to maintaining and optimizing Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopter programmes globally, as well as research into next-generation aircraft technologies, cyber security, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

Customer Services Centre

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The campus will also house a dedicated customer services centre, supporting Airbus operators worldwide with flight-hour services, maintenance assistance, and technical support. The facility was inaugurated by DK Shivakumar, deputy chief minister of Karnataka, and MB Patil, the state's minister for industries and infrastructure. Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, India's minister of civil aviation, addressed the event virtually.