Carriers shop big-time for aircraft

New Delhi: Airlines in India are chalking out major expansion plans. Each, on an average, is planning to acquire 50 planes in the next six to seven years.Air-India and Indian Airlines are set to bag 68 and 43 planes valued at Rs 35,000 crore and Rs 10,000 crore, respectively. While Air-India has placed orders with Boeing, Indian Airlines has opted for Boeing’s European rival Airbus. Indigo Airlines is acquiring 100 planes of single configuration from Airbus worth $6 billion. The next big order comes from the first low-cost airline in India, Air Deccan, worth Rs 16,000 crore, for 96 planes. Of the 96 aircraft, 67 will be A-320s and 29 will be ATRs. Jet Airways has ordered 30 planes valued at Rs 12,000 crore. Kingfisher Airlines, will add 30 more aircraft to its fleet by 2010, costing around Rs 10,000 crore. The company is also the first in India to place orders for five Airbus superjumbo A-380s. Spice, Jet and GoAir, have together placed orders for 43 aircraft worth Rs 11,300 crore.
04/08/06 Financial Express

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