'The worst is over for the airlines business'

He's a high-flier. How else can one describe Dinesh Keskar , president of Boeing India? He has balanced his engineering and marketing skills with equal panache in this company for 29 years. Keskar spoke to Shobha John :
Boeing projected that over the next 20 years, India will require 1,000 commercial jets valued at approximately $100 billion. Isn't that too optimistic?
These projections are based on India's high growth rate, traffic flow and GDP, which continues to grow at 6 per cent and could average 8 per cent. Even five years back, we wouldn't have thought India would have some 350 planes but it has come true. Though the low-cost model stimulated the market, once the economy looks up two to three years later, i predict the demand for full-service carriers will go up. We betted on people flying point-to-point and were proved right. The 250-350 seater will be the future of the international sector.
Boeing and AI signed the biggest commercial aviation deal for 68 planes. But there were reports AI cancelled the order for six 777s. Is this true?
There has been no discussion either on renegotiation of prices or cancellation between us. If and when AI wants a deferment, we will decide then. The only issue in question now is when AI would like to take these 777s. Everything else is already delivered, except the 27 787s which we are delaying unfortunately. There may be times when a contract can't be enforced completely due to changed circumstances. We understand that and help airlines in their hour of need.
02/09/09 Shobha John/Times of India

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Categories: Foreign Sep 2009, Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2009