Mumbai, March 13 : India's major airlines will have to buy 222 aircraft up to the year 2019 to meet increasing passenger traffic needs and replace their ageing fleet, according to Airbus Industries' latest market forecast.The projected figure of 222 aircraft would comprise 124 aircraft to meet growth in passenger traffic, in addition to another 98 to replace ageing aircraft currently in service. As a result, the fleet of major airlines in India would double from 112 aircraft at the end of 1999 to 236 in 20 years time, the forecast said.The forecast based on growth projections for airlines serving India, predicts an average growth of 5.4 per cent a year in traffic which is higher than the worldwide growth forecast of around five per cent.
Commenting on the forecast, Airbus Industries vice president (forecasting and strategic planning) Adam Brown said that in future, air-travel will be driven by lower tariff, which has come down by half during the last 30 years.He expected the traffic to double by 2015 and treble by 2023. Airports and airlines will have to cope with the increase in traffic, which will pave the way for large aircraft like A380, he added.
During the next 20 years, air travel between India and Europe will increase three and half times, growing at an average 6.5 per cent per year. However, in contrast, annual growth in travel to and from Africa will average just 4.5 per cent, the report stated.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
