Merged AI-IA needs 60 more aircraft

New Delhi: Facing an aging snag-prone fleet that has to be phased out to compete in the fast expanding aviation industry, the merged Air India-Indian Airlines is going to require at least 60 more aircraft than the earlier order placed for 111 planes worth over $ 10 billion.
During a review meeting on merger held by aviation minister Praful Patel on Friday, the problem of aircraft shortage was discussed threadbare. A working group set up on this issue has found that the merged airline will need 30 wide-bodied aircraft and at least as many, if not more, narrow body planes. Additional fleet will require $6-7 billion extra spending.
The wide-bodied options are Boeing 747, 777 and 787 apart from the Airbus A310 and 330s. The narrow body options include Boeing 737 and the A-320 family. The airlines are also facing shortage of planes. The ministry now admits the main reason for dwindling fortunes of national carriers is that they did not get modern planes for years while the competition kept adding capacity as the market grew.
30/06/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Air India Jun 2007, Indian Jun 2007