Air India Starts Talks With Boeing, Airbus; Eyes A380-Sources

New Delhi: State-owned Air India has begun talks with Boeing Co. and Airbus to buy new planes including the A380 superjumbo, people familiar with the development said Friday.
"The airline is in touch with both Boeing and Airbus on the types of aircraft available and what will be required in the industry in future," said a senior airline executive, who didn't want to be named.
"There is a committee in the airline which is discussing the ratio of planes to buy, how many small capacity and short haul and how many ultra-long range. It includes the A380 and the 747-800 model," the airline executive said.
"Air India has had preliminary discussions with Airbus and they have expressed interest in the A380," another person, who also didn't want to be identified, said.
Consultancy firm Ernst & Young India forecast in a recent report that the fleet size of Indian carriers will more than triple to 700 from 235 by 2012.
21/09/07 Nitin Luthra/Dow Jones/CNNMoney.com

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Categories: Foreign Sep 2007, NACL Sep 2007, New Sep 2007