“1,770 of the new aircraft are expected to be small, while 440 could be medium and large.”
“1,770 of the new aircraft are expected to be small, while 440 could be medium and large.”
Airbus estimates that airlines in India will require 2,210 new aircraft over the next 20 years, with small aircraft accounting for 80% of new deliveries.
The airline group has expressed optimism about the growth potential, saying in its latest market forecast for India that demand will come on the back of passenger traffic in the country, which is expected to grow at 6.2% per year through 2040, making it the fastest among the major economies and well ahead of the country would make global average of 3.9%.
Breant McBratney, Head of Airline Marketing, Airbus India and South Asia, said in a presentation on the latest forecast at Wings India 2022 here on Thursday that 1,770 of the new aircraft are expected to be small, while 440 could be mid-size and large. In the previous edition of the biennial event, Airbus had set demand for new passenger and cargo aircraft in India at 1,880 by 2038.
Noting that heavy domestic traffic was primarily the engine of India’s air traffic growth, the Airbus forecast said the country had installed only about a tenth of its widebody fleet in similar markets, depriving domestic airlines of a larger share of profitable long-haul routes now dominated by foreign airlines.
“It is time for Indian airlines to unlock the potential of international travel to and from India and capitalize on the country’s demographic, economic and geographic advantages,” said Remi Maillard, President and MD, Airbus India & South Asia. The forecast states that by 2040 India will need an additional 34,000 pilots and 45,000 technicians to service the growing aviation industry.
