All the scheduled Indian airlines such as Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet can now import 375 aircraft for commercial operation for they have got approval from the civil aviation ministry. The jets would be inducted by various carriers in the next 15 years.
“From August 2009 the government has granted permission for import of 49 aircraft for scheduled air transport services. The approval for these aircraft is valid till one year,” civil aviation minister Praful Patel informed. Air freight service provider Deccan Cargo and Aryan Cargo have also asked to induct 8 and 2 jets respectively.
American aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company had previously said that considering India’s fast growing aviation sector, the country would require 1,150 commercial jets worth $130 billion in the next 20 years.
Boeing India president Dinesh Keskar said that the India’s civil aviation sector has grown by 22 per cent in the first 6 months of this year and the growth rate from January to June varied between 19 to 25 per cent, thus averaging a healthy 22 per cent. “The domestic air traffic would grow to 50 million this year if the current trend continues,” added Keskar.
