NEW DELHI: Airframe-makers are expecting a huge demand for single-aisle aircraft in India with the government approving the launch of six new airlines for national and regional operations.
The six airlines – Air One, Premier Air, Zexus Air, Turbo Megha, Air Carnival, Zav Airways- were issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) after their applications had been pending for long with the Indian government, says India’s Junior Minister for Civil Aviation G. M. Siddeshwara.
An official of a leading aircraft manufacturing company says, “It’s good news for us. New airlines means, more aircraft. We can expect our orders to go up in the coming days.”
Three of the new approvals – Air One, Premier Air, Zexus Air – are for national airlines; while Turbo Megha, Air Carnival and Zav Airways will operate as regional airlines.
Of the new applicants, Air One already runs charter operations with about half-a-dozen business jets and helicopters.
All six airlines will now need to approach the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator- to begin the process of getting flying permits, which may take about three months.
The decision comes in the wake of the civil aviation ministry’s assessment to allow non-scheduled air operators and air charter firms to transform to scheduled operators to fly on routes not touched by the existing scheduled airlines.
“It is aimed at promoting air travel to unconnected destinations,” Siddeshwara says.
Currently, India has eight airlines – state-run Air India and private carriers Jet Airways, Jet Lite, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go Air, Air Costa and AirAsia India.
In 2005, three new airlines – Kingfisher Airlines, Go Air and SpiceJet- began operations. A year later, low-fare carrier IndiGo joined them. Cash-strapped and debt-laden Kingfisher was grounded in 2012 following labor unrest.
Once the six airlines get final flying approvals, India could have as many as eight new airlines taking to the skies.
In June, AirAsia India – a joint venture between Malaysia’s low-cost carrier AirAsia Group Bhd and local investors -the Tata Group and Arun Bhatia’s Telestra Tradeplace – launched services, becoming the first airline with foreign investment to operate in India.
Another new airline – the proposed joint venture of India’s industrial conglomerate Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, whose name is yet to be finalized, is currently awaiting its flying permit from the DGCA to commence operations from its hub at New Delhi airport from September.
Analysts say the entry of new airlines for national and local operations is likely to spark tough competition resulting in lower fares for frequent flyers and improved connectivity across the country.
Meanwhile, major airframers are eyeing the Indian market for single-aisle aircraft.
Boeing has projected a demand for more than 1,600 new airplanes in India over the next 20 years, valued at $205 billion. “India’s demographics are highly favorable to the growth of air transportation,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president of Sales, Asia Pacific and India, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The share of India’s large population entering the workforce is growing. India could have the world’s fourth-largest economy if current trends continue helping drive demand for air travel.”
Boeing projects that passenger airlines in India will rely primarily on single-aisle airplanes such as the Next-Generation 737 and the 737 MAX, a new-engine variant of the market-leading 737, to connect passengers. Single-aisle airplanes will represent 83 percent of the new airplanes in the country.
According to Boeing estimates, about 1,330 single aisle aircraft will be delivered in India worth $132 billion during the period from now to 2032.
Airbus also says Indian carriers will require 1,290 new passenger aircraft valued at US$190 billion between now and 2032.
Of the requirement for 1,290 new aircraft, some 73 per cent will be for growth and 27 per cent for replacement. The new passenger aircraft include 913 single aisles like the A320 and A320neo Family, 322 twin aisles like the A350 XWB and A330, and 56 very large aircraft such as the A380. By 2032, today’s fleet of 343 aircraft will more than triple to some 1,233 aircraft, Airbus estimates.
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