Boeing opens technology centre in Bangalore; projects $17 billion in India sales

31 March 2009

US aircraft maker Boeing Co today announced the opening of the `Boeing Research & Technology-India' centre in Bangalore and projected sale of 100 planes worth $17 billion over the next four to five years to various airlines in the country.

Boeing, however, seems to have scaled down its 20-year projection of 1,001 planes worth over $105 billion for the Indian market to a more short-term projection of 100 planes for 4-5 years, but said its stood by the earlier forecast despite an economic downturn.

Boeing has not seen any cancellation of its order for civilian aircraft in India, though Jet Airways had deferred the order of two aircraft last year, Dinesh Keskar, president of Boeing India, said, adding that Boeing will pay compensation to Air India and Jet Airways for the delay in delivery of 787 Dreamliner.

''We clearly want to extend our footprint in India," Keskar said at the launch of the research and technology centre in Bangalore.

He said the Boeing centre will help sustain the company's competitive technological edge while enhancing India's aerospace capabilities. 

This centre will carry out continued collaboration with Indian R&D organisations, including government agencies and private sector R&D providers, universities and other companies, Boeing said in a release.