iPhone 18 Pro launch: Chartered flights carry India-made models to US, report says

Apple is stepping up production and shipments of its latest premium iPhone models from India as it prepares for their global sales launch on Friday.

According to a report in The Economic Times, Apple’s manufacturing units in the country are operating around the clock to produce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Several chartered flights, mainly departing from Chennai, have reportedly already carried the devices overseas.

Chartered flights carry India-made iPhones

The shipments are part of Apple’s preparations to ensure the two Pro models reach markets such as the US in time for the first day of sales.

“Apple had flown large quantities of iPhones on charters over the last week ahead of the global launch. More flights may be planned for taking iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, mostly to the US,” a person familiar with the flight details said, according to the report.

Two manufacturing facilities in India are currently producing the Pro models. One is operated by Foxconn, while the other is run by Tata Electronics.

Pro models to debut from India on launch day

The latest launch marks another step in Apple’s expanding manufacturing operations in India.

While India-made iPhones were available on the first day of global sales last year, the Pro and Pro Max models were not part of the initial India production rollout. This year, the two premium variants are expected to be available from the start of global sales.

Apple is not, however, manufacturing its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, in India.

Since Pro and Pro Max models account for around 15 per cent of iPhone sales in India, experts cited by Economic Times estimate that as much as 80-90 per cent of domestic production of these variants could be exported.

India becomes key iPhone export hub

Apple’s manufacturing footprint in India has expanded significantly in recent years. A Bloomberg report in March said the company increased iPhone production in the country by about 53 per cent last year and now makes around a quarter of its flagship devices in India.

India has also become a major destination for Apple’s iPhone exports, particularly amid changes in the company’s manufacturing strategy following US tariffs on Chinese manufacturing.

Government data cited in the report showed that Apple’s iPhone exports from India to the US rose from $7 billion in 2024 to $19.2 billion in 2025.

Beyond manufacturing, Apple is also expanding its presence in India, where sales have crossed $9 billion. The company is preparing to launch Apple Pay in the country later this year and has expanded its retail network to six stores.