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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
7 August, 2005: Boeing Company expects Indian airlines to buy around 500 aircraft in the next two decades, as increasing passenger load and decreasing fares will spur the need for more planes in the country. This would translate into a $40 billion opportunity for carriers.
"We witness a huge demand in the country, which is one of the highest growth rates in the world and with air travel becoming, the country’s aviation sector is poised for gaint leap," Boeing Senior Vice-President (Sales) Dinesh Keskar said.
India, which is witnessing a number of airline launches, has become one of the leading nations to host the largest number of discount carriers. India is also developing its airports and modernising state-owned fleets on a war-footing and is looking at ushering in a revolution in the aviation sector.
According to Keskar, passenger traffic is expected to grow at over 20 per cent over the next three to four years.
"With airlines intending to rope in even train travellers and with an increase in income levels in the country, the country’s aviation sector is growing in leaps and bounds," he said.
Meanwhile, India’s national carrier Air India has expressed its interest to acquire 8 new generation B-777-200 LR aircraft from Boeing.
"We plan to acquire 8 B-777-200 LR, also called world-liner, from Boeing, of which 6 will be firm orders and the rest options," the company’s chairman and managing director V Thulasidas said.
While Air India decided to buy eight, Jet Airways has placed orders for six, with ten other planes on option, Air Sahara is also in talks with the American aircraft maker for fleet acquisition.
The Pakistani national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines would be first to receive the aircraft, even though Qatar Airways and Eva Air of Taiwan (China) were also among the first to place orders.
B-777-200 LR, a new generation aircraft, will fly non-stop from Mumbai to San Francisco on Saturday over the North Pole in over 16 hours.
The aircraft can be used for non-stop flights from India to the US, Australia and Japan, Keskar said, adding that once Air India formally places its orders, it would take 15 months to deliver the first aeroplane.
"When the aircraft leaves Mumbai for San Francisco, we will probably be the first flight from India over the North Pole to the US," another Boeing official said.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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