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Boeing says India will need 317 aircraft in 20 years
Tuesday, 01 June 2004, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Indian carriers will need 317 aircraft over the next 20 years worth some $25 billion given the attractive long-term prospect for the aviation sector in the region, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said Tuesday.
"Our projection is based on a long-term growth of 8.7 percent in the south west region compared with four percent in other parts of the world," Dinesh Keskar, the airline's senior vice president for sales, told a news conference here.
Almost 65 percent of the requirement would be for single aisle aircraft, another 29 percent for twin-aisle planes and the remaining for smaller types, Keskar said, while making a sales pitch for the Seattle-based aircraft manufacturer.
He said that despite a three-year lapse since Boeing bid for selling 43 planes to Indian Airlines, the aircraft manufacturer's offer of a 
7 billion discount still stands.
"This discount will be available from day one when the orders are placed," Keskar said.
Boeing, he said, has also made an offer of selling three aircraft to Air-India when the airline's lease for two aircraft from Korean Airlines and one from Singapore Airlines expires in 2006. "The offer is for three 747-400 aircraft."
According to Keskar, Boeing was also eyeing the potential created by Air-India's announcement that it will operate a no-frills airline to the Middle East and South East Asia.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has said that the new subsidiary, Air India Express, will become operational from April next year with six aircraft to begin with, that will go up to a maximum of 14 in a phased manner.
While Boeing cannot supply aircraft immediately for Air India Express, it can do so for next expansion, Keskar said.
He also hoped to draw advantage by minister's statement that the government will table a comprehensive civil aviation policy by the end of this year that will incorporate the long-awaited fleet acquisition plans for the two flag carriers.
Keskar also made a pitch for the aircraft manufacturer's new airplanes for the medium, long and ultra-long haul markets - the 7E7 Dreamliner, 777-200ER/LR and the 737-800 with winglets.
The 7E7-8 can fly 1,500 nautical miles and open an altogether new market for Indian carriers such as non-stop links between Delhi and New York, Bangalore and San Francisco and Mumbai and Chicago.
He claimed that over a 17-year period, the net present value (NPV) of 7E7-8 was $60 million higher than the comparable aircraft of its competitor, Airbus Industries' A330-200.
Similarly, he claimed, the NPV of 737-800 with winglets had an advantage of $12.3 million over A320, while that of 777-200ER was $35.5 million over Boeing's A340-300.
Source: IANS
7 billion discount still stands.
"This discount will be available from day one when the orders are placed," Keskar said.
Boeing, he said, has also made an offer of selling three aircraft to Air-India when the airline's lease for two aircraft from Korean Airlines and one from Singapore Airlines expires in 2006. "The offer is for three 747-400 aircraft."
According to Keskar, Boeing was also eyeing the potential created by Air-India's announcement that it will operate a no-frills airline to the Middle East and South East Asia.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has said that the new subsidiary, Air India Express, will become operational from April next year with six aircraft to begin with, that will go up to a maximum of 14 in a phased manner.
While Boeing cannot supply aircraft immediately for Air India Express, it can do so for next expansion, Keskar said.
He also hoped to draw advantage by minister's statement that the government will table a comprehensive civil aviation policy by the end of this year that will incorporate the long-awaited fleet acquisition plans for the two flag carriers.
Keskar also made a pitch for the aircraft manufacturer's new airplanes for the medium, long and ultra-long haul markets - the 7E7 Dreamliner, 777-200ER/LR and the 737-800 with winglets.
The 7E7-8 can fly 1,500 nautical miles and open an altogether new market for Indian carriers such as non-stop links between Delhi and New York, Bangalore and San Francisco and Mumbai and Chicago.
He claimed that over a 17-year period, the net present value (NPV) of 7E7-8 was $60 million higher than the comparable aircraft of its competitor, Airbus Industries' A330-200.
Similarly, he claimed, the NPV of 737-800 with winglets had an advantage of $12.3 million over A320, while that of 777-200ER was $35.5 million over Boeing's A340-300.
Source: IANS