by – Ashwani Sharma,

Editor, South Asia Defence & Strategic Review

AeroIndia has evolved into one of Asia’s premier aerospace exhibitions, drawing leading global defense and aviation companies. While the event has expanded significantly in scale and participation, infrastructure, logistics, and visitor experience have not kept pace. This article examines its achievements, ongoing challenges, and areas for improvement to ensure Aero India remains a world-class defence expo.

 The first Air show at Yelahanka, Bangalore, was held in 1991, and since 2002, it has been rechristened as Aero India. Over the years, the event has evolved into one of Asia’s most significant aerospace exhibitions, attracting global defence and aviation majors. Since 2007 we have been tracking its progress, documenting its evolution, and highlighting the areas where it has excelled—and where it still falls short.

There is no doubt that AeroIndia has grown significantly. The number of participants has increased dramatically, with exhibitors from across the globe showcasing cutting-edge aerospace technologies, defence solutions, and futuristic airpower concepts. The event gained further momentum when the MRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) project opened the Indian aerospace market two decades ago, attracting major aerospace giants like Boeing, Saab, Lockheed Martin, Dassault, and HAL. The Air show has since become a major platform for business engagements and international collaboration.

However, despite this growth, some fundamental challenges remain unaddressed.

Infrastructure Challenges

While the show has expanded in scale and participation, its facilities and visitor experience have not kept pace. Just to highlight a few:-

• Inadequate Facilities.  A single, overwhelmed Starbucks for thousands of exhibitors and visitors is a telling sign of the lack of hospitality services. L1 and L2, the two other food courts were inadequate and a distance away; (the blistering Bangalore sun did not help), and basic amenities such as urinals have always remained in short supply, leading to long queues that could easily be avoided.
• Business days. The first three days are designated as ‘business’ days meant for serious business and industry interactions.  Families, including toddlers enjoying a picnic outing dilutes the professional atmosphere and undermines the sanctity of business days.
• Signage, B2b, Symposium Arrangements.  Moving around, searching for stalls and facilities under the scorching sun is no fun. Symposium halls and b2b meeting areas therefore should be conveniently located and easily accessible. Moreover, clear area maps and prominent signage are essential for an event of this scale- their importance cannot be overstated.
• Media Centre Constraints. The media centre remains small and outdated, making it difficult for journalists and analysts to work efficiently. Given Aero India’s importance in global defence media, this needs urgent attention.

Traffic Woes – A Nightmare for Attendees

Bangalore’s infamous traffic congestion becomes even worse during the Airshow. This year, many visitors—including key decision-makers—missed scheduled meetings due to long hours spent stuck on the road. The local media was flooded with reports of delays and logistical nightmares, making it evident that current traffic management solutions are not working. If Aero India aspires to be on par with global events like the Paris or Farnborough airshows, solving this issue must be a top priority.

Aero India is primarily a B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-customer) event, yet it retains a heavy governmental presence. While official participation is necessary for diplomatic and strategic reasons, an excessive focus on government-led engagements dilutes the event’s business potential.

Instead of micromanaging the show, the government should act as a facilitator and allow a professional event management company to take over operations. This would free up hundreds of man-hours spent by officials and allow the event to function more efficiently—similar to how other international expos operate.

New Venue for AeroIndia ?

Given the challenges of infrastructure, traffic, and visitor management, it is time to reconsider whether Bangalore is the best venue for Aero India. A new, more spacious location with better connectivity and modern exhibition facilities could significantly enhance the event’s effectiveness.

The objective of Aero India should not just be to host a larger biennial event, but to create an environment conducive to business, innovation, and professional engagement. As India aims to become a global aerospace hub, the country must ensure that its flagship airshow reflects this ambition in every aspect.

The question remains – Will Aero India 2027 finally address these long-standing concerns, or will we continue to see the same challenges year after year? Only time will tell.