Mumbai: Aircraft manufacturers Bombardier and Embraer are making a pitch for small jets to connect Tier-II and Tier-III towns with metros. With these jets, which have fewer than 120 seats, these companies are promising lower seat-km costs.
Seat-km cost is the unit cost incurred to fly a certain number of passengers on a particular route.
Currently, domestic airlines fly narrow-bodied Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s, which have about 180 seats. While Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet fly turboprops (40-80 seats), regional operator Air Costa flies two Embraer E-170 jets, with 67 seats, in south and west India.
To expand its regional network, Air India has invited bids for eight 70-80 seater turboprops, while IndiGo is exploring plans to create a separate subsidiary to link small towns with ATR turboprop planes. Last month, Air Costa had ordered 50 Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets, with a capacity of 98-118 seats. Deliveries of the E2 jets will begin in 2018.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer sees strong growth prospects for small jets in India.
18/03/14 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
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Seat-km cost is the unit cost incurred to fly a certain number of passengers on a particular route.
Currently, domestic airlines fly narrow-bodied Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s, which have about 180 seats. While Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet fly turboprops (40-80 seats), regional operator Air Costa flies two Embraer E-170 jets, with 67 seats, in south and west India.
To expand its regional network, Air India has invited bids for eight 70-80 seater turboprops, while IndiGo is exploring plans to create a separate subsidiary to link small towns with ATR turboprop planes. Last month, Air Costa had ordered 50 Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets, with a capacity of 98-118 seats. Deliveries of the E2 jets will begin in 2018.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer sees strong growth prospects for small jets in India.
18/03/14 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
