Air India to Double Fleet Size

Mumbai: Air India Ltd. plans to double its fleet size to 272 planes over five years in the country's fast-growing aviation market, even as the national carrier strives to cut costs and reduce losses.
"Based on the studies our consultants have done, the Indian aviation market will grow to 150 million passengers by 2015 from the current 72 million, and a company has to expand in a growing market," said Gustav Baldauf, Air India's first chief operating officer.
The airline, with a current fleet size of 135, plans to lease 107 planes by the end of 2015, he told Dow Jones Newswires in a recent interview.
In addition, Air India expects to take delivery of 30 planes from Boeing Co., which forms part of the 111-plane order from Boeing and Airbus in 2005, said Mr. Baldauf, who joined the carrier in April.
14/01/11 Anirban Chowdhury/Wall Street Journal

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Categories: Air India Jan 2011