Last Updated: October 30, 2007
New Delhi, October 30: European aircraft maker Airbus Industrie is in talks with flag carrier Air India for sale of up to 12 superjumbo A-380 planes, as it looks for a greater presence in the world's fastest growing civil aviation market.
Flanked by Chief Operating Officer John Leahy and Airbus (India) President Kiran Rao, Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders said his company hoped to expand its relationship with India, which he termed as the 'fastest growing (civil aviation) market'. Leahy told reporters that Airbus was holding talks with Air India for sale of about 10 to 12 A-380 aircraft.
So far, only Kingfisher Airlines among Indian carriers has placed orders for purchase of A-380s, delivery of which will begin from 2010-11.
Earlier this month, Singapore Airlines became the world's first airline to have inducted the superjumbo in its fleet.
"If orders are placed within the next couple of months, Airbus will be able to start delivery of aircraft by 2011-12," Leahy said.
The long range aircraft can enable an airline to fly to Delhi-Los Angles or Delhi-New York non-stop. The Airbus COO said he hoped to see the A-380 in Indian skies 'in the near future and not in distant future'. Rao, while emphasising on the growth of Indian civil aviation market, said that the company had so far sold more than 100 aircraft this year among its seven customers.
The estimate was that India would require 1,100 aircraft worth $105 billion in the next 20 years, he said and added that the company was also focusing on the country's cargo market which was also growing manifold.
Airbus Industrie's relation with India is not limited to sale of aircraft, and the company has extended cooperation in the Information Technology sector, set up a training service institute in Bangalore and entered into a partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which builds 50 per cent of doors for Airbus A-320 planes.
"We have business relations with Tata and Wipro as well," Enders said, adding, "You ain't seen anything so far. More partnerships in India can be seen."
Though globally the positive thing was that civil aviation market was growing, he said this did not make the company complacent about the continuous challenges faced in the sector like increasing aviation fuel prices and protecting the environment.
"But for us challenges mean opportunities to improve more and more," said Enders, who is on his first visit to India.
With an excellent base available in the country, the Airbus Chief Executive said he was 'confident and optimistic' that cooperation can be expanded further and both sides can benefit from this relationship. Rao said so far no part of A-380 was manufactured from India but 'design work' for the long haul aircraft was going on. He, however, refused to elaborate further.
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