Tweet
Boeing upgrades India outlook, says will need 1450 new aircraft in next 20 years
Despite domesic carriers facing high taxes on fuel and airports coupled with rupee depreciation, US aircraft maker Boeing on Tuesday increased its forecast saying it expects local airlines to order 1,450 planes in the next 20 years worth $175 billion.
Last year, the company had forecast India would need 1,320 passenger planes worth $150 billion until 2030.
“India will continue to have one of the strongest, most vibrant aviation markets in the world and in the next 20 years it will exceed even that of China,” said Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice President of Sales, Asia Pacific and India, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Boeing forecast passenger traffic to grow by 8.4 per cent annually in South Asia, which includes India, and by 7 per cent annually in China up to 2031.
Giving out the reasons for Boeing’s forecast Keskar sai: “Passenger growth forecast over the next 20 years would be driven by an underlying economy with long-term growth projections of twice the world average and supported by the continued economic prosperity amongst a growing segment of the large Indian population, higher discretionary incomes, business progress and easier access to airports.”
Talking about new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Keskar said it is fundamentally the right plane for the airline’s turnaround
“Three Boeing 787 Dreamliners are ready for delivery at the Charleston. It is up to the airline when it takes their delivery. Boeing 787s are the fundamentally right plane for the turnaround of Air India,” said he.
The Dreamliner will help the national carrier augment and expand its network, he said, adding that the plane has the range and the capacity to be deployed on many routes including the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia at “significantly lower operating costs”.
Over the next four years, Boeing would deliver seven of these aircraft, he said. The company has so far delivered 19 aircraft to four airlines -- 13 to All Nippon Airlines, four to Japan Airlines and one each to Ethiopian Airways and Lan Airlines of Chile.
Keskar said that Air India’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nagpur will be completed by the year-end and become operational by the second quarter of next calender year. The total cost of the MRO facility would be around $100 million, he said.
“Construction will be completed by December this year. Then equipment and machinery would be installed, including those for the 787s. And the MRO will become operational by the second quarter of next year after necessary clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” Keskar said.
Despite domesic carriers facing high taxes on fuel and airports coupled with rupee depreciation, US aircraft maker Boeing on Tuesday increased its forecast saying it expects local airlines to order 1,450 planes in the next 20 years worth $175 billion.
Last year, the company had forecast India would need 1,320 passenger planes worth $150 billion until 2030.
“India will continue to have one of the strongest, most vibrant aviation markets in the world and in the next 20 years it will exceed even that of China,” said Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice President of Sales, Asia Pacific and India, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Boeing forecast passenger traffic to grow by 8.4 per cent annually in South Asia, which includes India, and by 7 per cent annually in China up to 2031.
Giving out the reasons for Boeing’s forecast Keskar sai: “Passenger growth forecast over the next 20 years would be driven by an underlying economy with long-term growth projections of twice the world average and supported by the continued economic prosperity amongst a growing segment of the large Indian population, higher discretionary incomes, business progress and easier access to airports.”
Talking about new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Keskar said it is fundamentally the right plane for the airline’s turnaround
“Three Boeing 787 Dreamliners are ready for delivery at the Charleston. It is up to the airline when it takes their delivery. Boeing 787s are the fundamentally right plane for the turnaround of Air India,” said he.
The Dreamliner will help the national carrier augment and expand its network, he said, adding that the plane has the range and the capacity to be deployed on many routes including the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia at “significantly lower operating costs”.
Over the next four years, Boeing would deliver seven of these aircraft, he said. The company has so far delivered 19 aircraft to four airlines -- 13 to All Nippon Airlines, four to Japan Airlines and one each to Ethiopian Airways and Lan Airlines of Chile.
Keskar said that Air India’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nagpur will be completed by the year-end and become operational by the second quarter of next calender year. The total cost of the MRO facility would be around $100 million, he said.
“Construction will be completed by December this year. Then equipment and machinery would be installed, including those for the 787s. And the MRO will become operational by the second quarter of next year after necessary clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” Keskar said.
