According to Airbus’ latest market forecast, Indian carriers will require 1,043 new (passenger (1,020) and freighter (23) aircraft valued at US$145 billion between now and 2030 to satisfy surging annual demand.
Addressing a press conference on Indian Market forecast at the ongoing International India Aviation-2012 here, Mr Joost Van Der Heijder, Head of Airline Marketing-India-South-East Asia, Japan and Africa of Airbus, said India’s market for new aircraft makes it the world’s fourth largest in both number of aircraft and value. Indian annual passenger traffic growth rates of 7.2 per cent are well above the regional Asia Pacific average growth rate of 5.9 per cent against the world average 4.8 per cent, he said.
Of the requirement for 1,020 new passenger aircraft, some 860 will be for growth and 160 to replace the eldest aircraft in the existing fleet of 327.
By 2030, this means that India’s passenger fleet will more than triple to some 1,180 aircraft. UNI