HYDERABAD, INDIA— American Airlines (AA) plans to double the workforce at its India technology hub to about 800 employees by early next year, according to two people familiar with the matter. The center is located in Hyderabad (HYD) and currently employs around 400 staff.
The expansion places the carrier alongside rival Southwest Airlines (WN), which recently announced plans to grow its own Hyderabad (HYD) global capability center to roughly 1,000 employees over the next few years.
American Airlines Is Growing Hyderabad IT Center
American Airlines set up its Hyderabad hub in 2024. The center focuses on software engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The two sources said headcount stands at about 400 today and will rise to nearly 800 by early next year if hiring stays on track.
The airline confirmed it intends to keep hiring but did not share exact figures. It described the hub as having “several hundred” employees and called it part of a wider global technology network that works alongside its U.S. teams.
The company said its teams in Fort Worth, Phoenix, and Hyderabad work closely with the business to digitize processes and deploy new tools. According to the airline, this work improves speed to market, strengthens business outcomes, and builds a more resilient airline with a better experience for both staff and customers.
American Airlines also noted that it has increased its IT investment and its U.S.-based technology headcount every year since 2021. The India expansion adds to that base rather than replacing it, Reuters reported.
A Broader Shift Toward India for Core Technology Work
American Airlines and Southwest are part of a larger trend. Global firms, including JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, McDonald’s, Nvidia, and Eli Lilly, have expanded technology operations in India to tap its large talent pool. These moves come as costs rise in other markets and broader economic uncertainties continue.
The role of these centers has changed over time. Once mainly back-office units, India’s global capability centers now handle core functions such as engineering, research and development, finance, and operations.
India’s Position as the World’s Largest GCC Hub
India has become the world’s largest hub for global capability centers. A 2026 Nasscom-Zinnov report found that the country hosts more than 2,100 such centers. These centers employ about 2.36 million people and generate nearly $100 billion in revenue.
This scale helps explain why airlines and technology-driven firms continue to grow their Indian operations.
The talent base, combined with cost advantages, makes India a central location for advanced technology work rather than simple support tasks.
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