Jupiter Aviation and EADS in final talks for freighter aircraft conversion facility

New Delhi: Jupiter Aviation and Logistics, an emerging aviation infrastructure and logistics player, is in final talks with European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co (EADS) to build India's first facility that will convert passenger planes into freighters, according to reports.

Reports quoting Ravi Narayanan, chief executive officer of the Bangalore-based firm, say that the two companies are working out the final details of the venture.

According to industry analysts, a local conversion facility would help Air India, Deccan Aviation and other local carriers to convert passenger planes to cargo carriers easily and at cheaper rates than in Europe.

Air India is expected to convert all eight Airbus A310 planes it owns into freighters over the next three years, while Deccan Aviation may opt for the conversion of its turbo prop planes into freighters, even as it goes about starting a cargo airline.

According to Airbus calculations, India could buy 134 freight planes by 2025, mainly on the back of a rising demand in the world's second-fastest growing economy for transportation of goods by air.

According to these reports, Jupiter Aviation may also be in talks with EADS for converting passenger planes into mid-air refueling tankers.