Praful Patel wants PM''s backing to acquire 60 more

28 July 2007

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel wants the prime minister''s support to acquire another 60 new aircraft for AI-IA, in addition to the 111 planes, which the two airlines have ordered.

The government has ordered 68 Boeing for Air India, and 43 Airbus for Indian — the largest aircraft procurement by any airline.

At the launch function of the new Air India fleet, that includes the long-haul Boeing 777-200, and presided by Dr Manmohan Singh, Patel said that the new aircraft ordered by the national carriers, due in the next three years, would be inadequate to cope with the rapid growth of the aviation sector.

He said looking ahead at growth projections for the aviation sector the entire fleet requirement would need a fresh look. "I will urge the government and the prime minister to look into this aspect," he said.

Patel told reporters after the function that the civil aviation ministry would submit a proposal to the Planning Commission to sanction more aircraft to meet the needs of state-owned carriers after 2011.

According to V Thulasidas, chairman and managing director, who will head the merged Air India-Indian carrier, said the proposal to the Planning Commission would specify the need for 60 aircraft of varying sizes to meet the demand from different segments.