Quotes:
State-owned Air India has begun talks with Boeing Co. (BA) and Airbus to buy new planes including the A380 superjumbo, people familiar with the development said Friday.
In July, Air India said it plans to buy about 60 new passenger jetliners over the next few years and aims to start the selection and purchase process by mid- August. "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.
In a move to modernize their aging fleets, Air India ordered 68 Boeing jets, worth over $11 billion at list prices in December 2005, while Indian Airlines placed a $2.2 billion order in February 2006 with European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (5730.FR) unit Airbus, for 43 planes.
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. India's aviation industry is expected to grow by more than 25% annually over the next few years as a rapidly expanding economy boosts incomes, making it an attractive market for local and international carriers.
LAXDESI From United States of America, joined May 2005, 5085 posts, RR: 48 Reply 2, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 4338 times:
Quoting LY777 (Reply 1): My guess is that Airbus will win the order, this is obvious
It is possible that AI will not order A380 or B748, but will place orders for narrowbody--A320 series for domestic, B737 series for AIX, a LCC subsidiary of AI--and order additional 787s, and perhaps 772LR or A350s.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11254 posts, RR: 63 Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 4301 times:
I would have thought that both aircraft have a place in AI's fleet as they have vastly different capacities; 787/777-200, B747-800, A380-800 would work well if they are in need of a VLA. Time though will of course tell.
Sh0rtybr0wn From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 528 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4078 times:
Its India, with a billion people and huge growth in aviation, so I think the best choice would be A380's. They could get a good deal on A350's too if ordered at the same time. The A350-1000s would would be a good match with their 27 787-8s they have on order. Airbus has a good shot at this order.
NYC777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 5216 posts, RR: 49 Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4059 times:
Quoting Sh0rtybr0wn (Reply 6): Its India, with a billion people and huge growth in aviation, so I think the best choice would be A380's. They could get a good deal on A350's too if ordered at the same time. The A350-1000s would would be a good match with their 27 787-8s they have on order. Airbus has a good shot at this order.
Problem is the infrastructure doesn't exist to support the A380.
ERAUgrad02 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 1227 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4042 times:
Well it could be decided on which they can get 1st. If they get in back of line for A380, it could mean that the B747-8i can be had before A380. I don't know. Just food for thought.
I myself am hoping for further orders of 747-8i. I'll wait and see like we all should.
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21043 posts, RR: 60 Reply 9, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4007 times:
Quoting BlueSky1976 (Reply 5): This one will go to 747-8i. I doubt AI will need anything bigger in their fleet.
Quoting LY777 (Reply 1): My guess is that Airbus will win the order, this is obvious
Fight, fight, fight!
Such 180 degree diametrically opposed confidence!
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Mahan From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 53 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 3615 times:
Quoting NYC777 (Reply 7):
Problem is the infrastructure doesn't exist to support the A380
Even though the outlook looks bleak, Indians manage to find a way to make things happen.. everything appears chaotic, unorganized, cannot get anything done.. but sometimes, things happen in chaos.. Airports are being modernized Cochin, BLR, Hyderabda, Delhi might be able to support 380 in a year or 2.
Airlines I have flown - IC, 9W, KF, AI, LH, BA, LX, CO, DL, UA, SQ, MH, AA
Nimish From India, joined Feb 2005, 3086 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 3547 times:
Quoting NYC777 (Reply 7): Problem is the infrastructure doesn't exist to support the A380.
That's not a problem at all - by the time AI and the 59 committees make up their mind and place the order, EK, LH etc. would have been flying 380s to India for years - and forced the infrastructure in place
Karan69 From India, joined Oct 2004, 2796 posts, RR: 19 Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 3430 times:
Quoting Nimish (Reply 11): That's not a problem at all - by the time AI and the 59 committees make up their mind and place the order, EK, LH etc. would have been flying 380s to India for years - and forced the infrastructure in place Big grin
Plus barring the EY testbeds the next available factory built A380 slots are only starting from mid-2011
FCKC From France, joined Nov 2004, 2348 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2532 times:
I guess the A330 has a good chance here , referring to the comments the CEO declared some months ago , and the beginning of the lease of 2 Ex Novair machines.
Is an ideal replacement for A310s , before the 787 arrival.
Sure will do a good job on the AI network.
Karan69 From India, joined Oct 2004, 2796 posts, RR: 19 Reply 19, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2421 times:
Quoting FCKC (Reply 18): Is an ideal replacement for A310s , before the 787 arrival.
If 787 deliveries go as planned , AI would get almost 14 787s by 2009 end, when is the earliest 330 slot availalbe--i assume after 2009.
Ofcourse leasing is a different ball game, but with govt procedures in India--the leasing companies have to approach AI/IC rather than the other way around.
TeamAmerica From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 1761 posts, RR: 23 Reply 20, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days ago) and read 2341 times:
Quoting Sh0rtybr0wn (Reply 6): Its India, with a billion people and huge growth in aviation, so I think the best choice would be A380's.
Another widely held misconception! India has a large population, but only a fraction of that population has any hope of affording regular air travel. It will be decades before India (or China) approaches the size of Europe or North America in terms of the aviation market.
AI may choose the A380, but not because they expect a billion people as potential O & D traffic.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26956 posts, RR: 83 Reply 21, posted (5 years 9 months 2 days ago) and read 2311 times:
How is AI's JFK-LHR-BOM/DEL services doing? I recall that they used to be really strong, but I think some folks said traffic has started to fall off rather precipitously.
If it is still strong and growing, an A380 would be perfect. If it is stable (at 744 loads) or falling, then the 747-8I or the 777/A350 might be the more prudent model.
Kaitak744 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2210 posts, RR: 3 Reply 23, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2194 times:
Even if Air India orders the A380 or even the 747-8, they will not be able to fill them. The market in India is now filled with several airlines, all competing on the same flights. There is no need for any one airline to have a VLA. The 777-300ER is the largest aircraft Air India needs.
Scbriml From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 11445 posts, RR: 50 Reply 24, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2167 times:
Quoting TeamAmerica (Reply 20): Another widely held misconception! India has a large population, but only a fraction of that population has any hope of affording regular air travel. It will be decades before India (or China) approaches the size of Europe or North America in terms of the aviation market.
Both countries have a booming "middle/profesional class" for whom air travel is rapidly becoming the accepted norm. I've flown several internal flights in India this year - the fares were low and the flights were full. Just look at the number of planes on order in both countries and that the buying spree in both shows no sign of slowing down.
Four more years!
25 Aerokiwi: It's not quite as simple as that. Yes wealth is growing, but capacity is too and there are serious concerns about the long term viability of several
26 TeamAmerica: True, it's just that the numbers entering that afluent class are nowhere near as large as people assume. Certainly not a billion! Taking the populati
27 Sammyk: If it was just a few people on occasion then no. If thousands started taking the same route then yes, I'd say a road would be built. Unfortunately in
28 PM: Well, please define "affluent" for us and suggest a credible number. Even if you only include a quarter of the population, that's close to the total
29 LAXDESI: India's aviation sector is expected to record about 120 million passengers for the fiscal year 2007--compare that to 700 million passengers for USA. I
30 TrijetsRMissed: I'm hoping for a 748i order to give the 748i program a boost and perhaps provide some momentum along with the recent TG order.
31 PM: Don't count your chickens. There's no order yet.
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Another widely held misconception! India has a large population, but only a fraction of that population has any hope of affording regular air travel. It will be decades before India (or China) approaches the size of Europe or North America in terms of the aviation market.
AI may choose the A380, but not because they expect a billion people as potential O & D traffic.
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