According to ATWONLINE.COM, Air Sahara has announced that it intends to order 40 airplanes for delivery over the next five years to bring its fleet to 65.
ATWONLINE.COM has speculated that the likely order will consist of 777s and 737NGs. Last week, Air Sahara announced plans to begin daily services between Delhi and London from September/October with two 777-200ERs leased from ILFC for five years.
Dalecary From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (7 years 11 months 13 hours ago) and read 5436 times:
I think they have already ordered 20 737NG. They had a firm order for 10 and exercised 10 options very recently. I guess if they order another 20 planes it could be split 10 737/10 777 at a guess.
Blsbls99 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 345 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 11 months 12 hours ago) and read 5351 times:
I don't think Air Sahara has exercised options or purchased any 737NGs recently...you might be thinking of SpiceJet.
In fact, on boeing.com, they aren't even listed as a customer/purchaser.
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4439 posts, RR: 43 Reply 4, posted (7 years 11 months 12 hours ago) and read 5280 times:
Quoting B747-437B (Reply 2): I've long given up trying to predict what Sahara will do next.
Sean your point above indeed does make a lot of sense and raises a lot of interesting questions.
S2 is the 3rd biggest domestic airline in India behind 9W and IC and yet those airlines and a host of new start ups have already announced many large wide-bodied and short-bodied aircraft and yet an airline of S2s stature and name in India who has operating for many years now hasnt as yet placed or even hinted at placing a sizeable widebodied order to fuel its international expansion.
LAXDESI From United States of America, joined May 2005, 5085 posts, RR: 48 Reply 5, posted (7 years 11 months 10 hours ago) and read 5049 times:
Quoting Behramjee (Reply 4): Why is that? Why are they taking so long?
Lack of capital perhaps is a reason. No one knows if they are currently profitable. They did not want to show their financial statements to SAA for the leasing of three A340s, which was cited as a reason by SAA in signing the lease with Jet Airways.
Atmx2000 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 4576 posts, RR: 39 Reply 6, posted (7 years 11 months 10 hours ago) and read 5030 times:
At first I read that as being 40 777s plus some 737s, and I thought these guys are even more delusional than certain ME airlines. I presume any order would end up being heavily weighted towards 737s in any order size at 40 aircraft.
The Indian airlines are going nuts.
ConcordeBoy is a twin supremacist!! He supports quadicide!!
6thfreedom From Bermuda, joined Sep 2004, 3266 posts, RR: 22 Reply 7, posted (7 years 11 months 10 hours ago) and read 5005 times:
A lot of the Indian carriers seem to be focussing on the UK, Europe and USA in their short term expnasion plans. Over the last 12 months the Australia-India market has grown by 30%, with average annual growth of 23% since 2000.
Which Indian carrier do you think would commence Australian ops first.
AI had expressed interest, but I think that 9W or S2 may beat them to it.
Dalecary From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (7 years 11 months 6 hours ago) and read 4765 times:
Quoting Blsbls99 (Reply 3): don't think Air Sahara has exercised options or purchased any 737NGs recently...you might be thinking of SpiceJet.
In fact, on boeing.com, they aren't even listed as a customer/purchaser.
I think you're right. Too many Indian airlines all of a sudden for me to keep track of!!!
Sshank From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 287 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (7 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3880 times:
Quoting Behramjee (Reply 4):
Why is that? Why are they taking so long?
Just a guess - may be its got something to do with their pilots running away like they are the plague?
Sahara needs to have simpler goals - like making it to 2006 as a functioning entity.
N79969 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (7 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3706 times:
Is there actually enough aviation infrastrucure in India (gates, runway capacity, licensed mechanics/pilots, terminal space, safety inspectors, airport access, etc to accommodate all of the airplanes that are being ordered?
B747-437B From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (7 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3693 times:
Quoting N79969 (Reply 14): Is there actually enough aviation infrastrucure in India (gates, runway capacity, licensed mechanics/pilots, terminal space, safety inspectors, airport access, etc Wink to accommodate all of the airplanes that are being ordered?
In one word, no.
Well, in theory there is but thats only if they are willing to hub in places Nagpur or Porbandar.
NYC777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 5153 posts, RR: 49 Reply 17, posted (7 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3521 times:
While it's great that Indian Civil aviation is experiencing growth, the GOI is a miserable failure when it comes to the infrastructure. The GOI love to bill India as an extremely important player on world political and economic stage yet the airport infrastructure is no better than more destitute third world countries.
To date I haven't heard much about wholesale airport infrastructure upgrades/renovations and new construction other than the plan to partially privatize Mumbai and Delhi airports. Makes you want to you to put you heard through a wall!
The smart money should be on anarchy, but like most Indians they will probably find a way to squeeze triple the designed capacity into limited space and life goes on as normal.
N60659 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 654 posts, RR: 28 Reply 19, posted (7 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3174 times:
Quoting Atmx2000 (Reply 6): The Indian airlines are going nuts.
Quoting Dalecary (Reply 8): I think you're right. Too many Indian airlines all of a sudden for me to keep track of!!!
Kind of reminds you of the US right after deregulation doesn't it?
Quoting N79969 (Reply 14): Is there actually enough aviation infrastrucure in India (gates, runway capacity, licensed mechanics/pilots, terminal space, safety inspectors, airport access, etc to accommodate all of the airplanes that are being ordered?
That's the million dollar question. New airlines are crawling out of the woodwork, but the basic infrastructure remains the same as it has always been. With large investment in improving the basic infrastructure (terminals, runways, ATC, ramp space etc. etc), Indian aviation could be in a world of hurt. More than anything else, the spike in air traffic will place a higher emphasis on the ATC network, which to me, needs considerable attention.
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