Boeing sees signs of an improving commercial aviation market place in India. Over the next 20 years, the Boeing Current Market Outlook projects that the airlines in India will need 1,450 new airplanes worth $175 billion.
Addressing reporters at Aero India 2013, Dinesh Keskar, Senior VicePresident of Asia-Pacific and India Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said, “In India while traffic is dropping due to reduced capacity, yields are improving and fuel prices are stabilising in the market.”
“These are all positive signs for the airlines in India,” he added. “There is now a balance between supply and demand helping airlines get reasonable yields to make a profit.”
Boeing continues to be the choice supplier of long-haul, twin-aisle airplanes, with the 777 and 787 Dreamliner playing key roles in the fleets of major airlines in India.
Keskar, giving the 20-year forecast of airplane deliveries by the airplane type, said for India, new airplane deliveries (2012-2031) will be as follows: Single-aisle airline - 1,201 valued at $114 billion; Twin-aisle – 234 worth $61 billion; regional jets – 15 worth $0.5 billion.
Single-aisle airplanes such as 737 and new 737 MAX continue to be in high demand with airlines in India, making up the bulk of new deliveries in the next 20 year period.
“Because fuel prices are higher in India, our newest products such as the 737 MAX will help airlines in India save fuel and lower their costs,” Keskar explained.
“In addition, the capabilities of the 737 MAX will allow airlines to fly passengers farther and in more comfort with the Boeing Sky Interior,” he added.