India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit 2.0 (IALFS 2.0) at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India (MoCA), jointly with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), successfully organised the 2nd edition of the India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit 2.0 (IALFS 2.0) on Friday, 8th May 2026, at the GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Event Overview
- Date: 8 May 2026
- Venue: GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Organized by: MoCA, IFSCA, and FICCI
- Presided by: Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu
- Chief Guest: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel

Key Highlights
- India’s commercial aircraft fleet projected to reach 1,100 by 2027 and 2,250 by 2035.
- Outstanding deliveries: 1,640 aircraft, representing a USD 50 billion opportunity for leasing.
- Landmark reform: Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects (PIAO) Act, 2025, aligning India with the Cape Town Convention.
- Government support:
- ATF price cap at 25%
- Landing/parking charges reduced by 25%
- ₹5,000 crore Credit Line Guarantee Scheme for airlines

Industry Announcements
- Air India (AI Fleet Services IFSC Ltd): Expanding portfolio from 50+ to 76 aircraft by March 2027.
- IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Financial Services IFSC): Expanding from ~75 to 150 aircraft by 2027.
- Akasa Air (AALI): Leasing ~60 aircraft over 5 years via GIFT City.
- Star Air (Ghodawat Aviation IFSC Pvt Ltd): Leasing Embraer E190s, with plans for 6–8 more regional aircraft in FY 2027.
- Vistra: Offering SPV structures for leasing under amended IFSCA regulations.
- KPMG + MoCA + FICCI: Released report “Advancing the aircraft leasing ecosystem in India – From reforms to powering future growth”.

Strategic Significance
- GIFT IFSC is evolving into a global aviation finance hub, hosting structures for aircraft, engines, helicopters, and more.
- Reforms include tax holidays, single-window IT systems, and SPV/trust structures.
- Stakeholders emphasized deepening domestic financing, building secondary markets, and streamlining customs for cargo and helicopter operators.

This summit clearly shows India’s intent to replicate the success of Dublin and Singapore as global leasing hubs, while anchoring growth in its own aviation ecosystem.