12 Mar 2018

India Aviation Industry Newsletter 12 March

Airbus Forecasts India to Need 1,750 New Aircraft Over Next 20 Years According to Airbus’ latest India Market Forecast, India will require 1,750 new passenger and cargo aircraft over the next 20 years to meet an exponential rise in both passenger and freight traffic. To help meet this growth, Airbus forecasts that India will need 1,320 new single-aisle aircraft and 430 widebody aircraft valued at US$255 billion. While much of the air traffic growth is expected to be driven by the fast expanding economy, rising wealth and urbanisation, ambitious government-backed regional connectivity programmes are also set to enhance demand for air travel. Air India completes Boeing deal, takes delivery of 23rd Boeing 777 Air India has taken delivery of its 23rd and the last Boeing 777 plane which can be used in ultra-long haul routes, and thus also completing its 68 aircraft orders placed with the US plane-maker more than a decade ago. The last Boeing 777-300ER, which can carry almost 300 passengers and bearing registration number VT-ALX. CFM adds LEAP-1A/LEAP-1B capability to Hyderabad CFM Training Center Ten years after it was officially opened, CFM International has expanded the capability of the CFM Training Center here to include both the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines as the fleet in India continues to grow. The LEAP-1A entered service in India last February with Air India, who now operates a fleet of 15 A320neo airplanes. Vistara followed in May 2017 and operates five LEAP-1A-powered A320neos. Jet Airways will be the first airline in country to introduce the LEAP-1B-powered Boeing 737 MAX later this year. There are currently a total of more than 600 CFM engines in service in India and Southern Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, power Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. Daher Taps SRK Aviacom as Indian TBM 910/930 Dealer Daher has named SRK Aviacom as the area sales representative for its TBM 910 and 930 turboprop singles on the Indian subcontinent. Based at New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, Aviacom is an established broker of preowned aircraft and helicopters in India, as well as a dealer for flight simulators and ATC simulation training devices. Honda takes business jet to India Honda Motor has begun accepting orders for its popular small business jet in India, eyeing the growing ranks of the affluent in a push to boost Asia-Pacific sales. Group member Honda Aircraft already offers the HondaJet in China and Southeast Asia, in addition to the Americas and Europe. Honda foresees a certain level of demand as India's wealthy demographic expands with the economy. India must fill gap in 70-150 seat aircraft class: Embraer India’s appetite for the 70-seater to 150-seater aircraft categories still lags its BRICS peers, said an Embraer official. Speaking to the media at the Wings India 2018 civil aviation show, Brazilian business jet manufacturer Embraer Asia-Pacific vice president Cesar Souto Pereira said that compared with other countries such as Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, India had to ‘catch up’ and fill this gap. Pratt & Whitney Supports India Aviation Skill Development with Newly Certified GTF Engine Courses at Hyderabad Training Center Pratt & Whitney announced its Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM Geared Turbofan™ (GTF) and V2500 engine technical training courses have been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has certified the GTF training as well, complementing the DGCA certification of V2500-A5 training obtained in early 2017. The certified courses will take place at the Pratt & Whitney Customer Training Center in Hyderabad, India and will provide enhanced opportunities for  aviation skill development. Qatar Airways yet to apply for its plan to set up 100-plane airline in India Qatar Airways has not submitted application for setting up an airline in India, according to the civil aviation ministry. The leading Gulf carrier has announced plans to launch an airline in the country. The airline has been exploring investment opportunities in India, one of the fastest growing in the aviation markets in the world. SpiceJet, CFM sign $12.5 billion engine/services deal SpiceJet and CFM International announced 10 March a $12.5 billion U.S. agreement that finalizes the purchase of LEAP-1B engines to power a total of 155 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, along with spare engines to support the fleet. The airline also signed a 10-year Rate per Flight Hour (RPFH) agreement with CFM Services that covers all LEAP-1B engines powering SpiceJet’s 737 MAX airplanes. RPFH agreements are part of CFM’s portfolio of flexible aftermarket support offerings. Under the terms of the agreement, CFM guarantees maintenance costs for all SpiceJet’s LEAP-1B engines on a pay -by-the-hour basis. We want to be India’s 2nd largest LCC in 5 years, says CEO of AirAsia India Read interview here Acumen Aviation © 12 March All Rights Reserved.