Manufacturer · India · Founded 1940
HAL: India’s Aircraft Maker
India is now one of the biggest aviation markets on Earth, ordering airliners by the hundred. Yet almost none of them are built in India. The country’s one big aircraft maker, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has spent most of its life building military aircraft, with passenger planes as an occasional, and fascinating, side story.
A company born in wartime Bangalore
HAL began on 23 December 1940 as Hindustan Aircraft Limited, founded in Bangalore by the industrialist Walchand Hirachand with support from the Kingdom of Mysore. It went on to become state-owned and grew into one of Asia’s largest aerospace companies, building fighters, trainers and helicopters for India’s armed forces.
The HS 748: India’s first airliner line
In the early 1960s, India set up a programme to build the British Avro (later Hawker Siddeley) HS 748, a sturdy twin-turboprop airliner, under licence. Between 1961 and 1988, 89 were built in India. Most went to the Indian Air Force, but 17 flew passengers with Indian Airlines, linking cities that were too small or too remote for jets.
The Dornier 228: built in Kanpur
In 1983 HAL bought a licence to build the German Dornier 228, a tough 19-seat turboprop. A production line was set up in Kanpur, the first Indian-built aircraft rolled out in 1985, and HAL went on to build 125. HAL also made major parts for Dornier’s own production. Today it still builds an updated version, the Hindustan 228, aimed at short regional routes under India’s UDAN scheme, which subsidises flights to small towns.
The arc
HAL and passenger aircraft
- 1940The bet
Hindustan Aircraft founded
Set up in Bangalore on 23 December by industrialist Walchand Hirachand.
- 1961Proof
HS 748 project
India begins building the British HS 748 turboprop under licence.
- 1983Proof
Dornier 228 licence
HAL starts building the 228 in Kanpur; 125 are made.
- 1988Reset
748 production ends
After 89 Indian-built aircraft.
- 2025The bet
SJ-100 agreement
HAL signs a memorandum to build the SJ-100 regional jet in India.
The real numbers
HAL in figures
1940
Founded
Bangalore, 23 December
89
HS 748s built
17 for Indian Airlines
125
Dornier 228s built
In Kanpur, under licence
19
Hindustan 228 seats
For India’s regional routes
A regional jet next?
In October 2025, HAL signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation to build the SJ-100, the former Sukhoi Superjet, for Indian customers. It would be the first complete passenger jet built in India. The agreement is a starting point rather than a contract, so it remains to be seen when, or whether, Indian-built jets will appear.
Meanwhile India’s airlines keep buying from Airbus and Boeing. For the bigger picture of how fast India is building airports to match, see China and India’s airport boom.
Iconic aircraft
1960s
HAL 748
The Avro/HS 748 turboprop built under licence; 89 made in India.
1985
Dornier 228 / Hindustan 228
A 19-seat turboprop for remote routes; still built in Kanpur.
2025
SJ-100 (planned) →
A ~100-seat regional jet HAL has agreed to build for Indian customers.
Sources & Further Reading
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded HAL?
The industrialist Walchand Hirachand founded it as Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Bangalore on 23 December 1940, in association with the Kingdom of Mysore. It later became the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Has India built its own airliners?
India has built airliners under licence rather than designing its own large passenger jets. HAL built 89 HS 748 turboprops, 17 of which flew with Indian Airlines, and 125 Dornier 228s. Its updated Hindustan 228 is aimed at India’s regional routes.
What is the Hindustan 228?
HAL’s updated version of the Dornier 228, a 19-seat twin-turboprop. It is built in Kanpur and pitched at short regional routes under India’s UDAN connectivity scheme.
Will HAL build the SJ-100?
HAL and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2025 for HAL to build the SJ-100 for Indian customers. It is an agreement to cooperate; production timing has not been confirmed.
What else does HAL build?
Mostly military aircraft and helicopters, including the Dhruv helicopter, which also has a civil version. Civil airliners have always been a smaller part of its work.