India Daily: Is the Aviation Market Ready to Handle Massive Jet Orders?
Photo Credit: India's airlines set news records for aircraft orders. Flights line up as day dawns on New Delhi Domestic Terminal / abhirupsen_haldia
Skift Take
As Indian airlines continue to expand, both in terms of fleet and routes, the country must start to focus on aviation infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of passengers.
Indian carriers now have the second-largest order book for new planes, with over a 6 percent share of the industry backlog, behind only the U.S., according to a recent Barclays report. Budget carrier IndiGo’s aircraft order for 500 Airbus A320neo family planes – likely worth $50 billion – has eclipsed Air India’s 470 aircraft order made in February. When added to IndiGo's substantial backlog totaling 480 jets, questions will arise whether the Indian market can accommodate this number of aircraft, noted IBA, an aviation market intelligence company and consultancy.
IndiGo breaks Air India record with single largest aircraft order from AirbusMeanwhile, Akasa Air, India’s newest airline, is reportedly in talks with U.S. aircraft maker Boeing to place a small follow-on order for 737 Max single-aisle jets if it can lock down financing. Boeing is working to finalize negotiations as soon as this week at the Paris event, according to people familiar with the matter. Akasa may order 10 or fewer aircraft, one of the people said.
In another development, Indian aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation has approved Vistara and IndiGo airlines to operate new international flights from August. The regulator approved Vistara's international flight between Delhi and Bali from August 1, and IndiGo's inter
