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Jet to acquire 30 aircraft in $4.4 B deal
By agencies
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Wednesday, 15 June 2005, 19:30 IST
MUMBAI: In a move that could well make Jet Airways the largest airline in the country in the next three years, the Mumbai-based carrier ordered 30 more aircraft at the Paris air-show today, in a deal worth roughly $4.4 billion.
Interestingly, the airline, which has so far ordered aircraft only from U.S. manufacturer Boeing, placed an order with European aircraft maker Airbus SAS. Jet chairman Naresh Goyal signed letters of intent with Airbus for 10 Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 planes with options to buy 10 more in the future.
However, Boeing still took the cream, bagging an order for ten 777-200 long-range and an equal number of 737-800 aircraft. The 777s will be used for Jets international operations and will have the capability to fly non-stop between India and the U.S.
The 737-800s are for domestic operations and currently form the mainstay of Jets existing fleet. The Boeing aircraft have a list price of $2.8 billion, but airline sources say the Jet management would have negotiated a steep discount.
Commenting on the slew of orders from India, Airbus chief executive Noel Fogeard said, China and India could be the drivers of growth in the future. In Europe the trend is good, it is excellent in the Middle East, and its even better in Asia, he said.
Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 36 Boeing 737s aircraft, three A340-300E aircraft and 8 ATR72-500 turboprops. About 24,000 passengers travel daily on the airlines 275 flights to 47 destinations.
Jet's domestic rival Kingfisher Airlines has plans to spend about $2.5 billing for multiple wide-bodied aircraft from Airbus, including its mammoth 555-seat A380 model, the world's biggest airliner.