Air India to buy more aircraft

24 September, 2007:

Air India is looking at buying more aircrafts in the near future. The airline has already begun talks with Boeing and Airbus. Media reports said that Air India is considering the purchase of the Airbus A380 superjumbo.

Air India had earlier stated that it plans to buy about 60 new passenger jetliners over the next few years. The selection and purchase process was to be started by mid-August, 2007. The new merged Air India, which is run by the National Aviation Company of India (NACIL), has a fleet of more than 110 planes with an additional 111 on order.

It has been reported that Air India has set up a committee to discuss what kind of planes it wants to buy. Air India has already ordered 68 Boeing jets, worth over $11 billion at list prices in December 2005. Indian Airlines has placed a $2.2 billion order in February 2006 with Airbus, for 43 planes.

The aviation industry in India is expected to grow by more than 25 per cent annually over the next few years as a rapidly expanding economy boosts incomes, making it an attractive market for local and international carriers.