The Hindu Business Line : IA issues tenders for leasing A-319, A-320

The airline has issued global tenders seeking to dry lease these aircraft from companies or airlines of international standing, which own, lease or manage the lease of 10 or more commercial aircraft.

IA plans to lease the aircraft for a period of three years, extendable by another two years.

While the last date for submission of the bids has been fixed as June 21, the airline hopes to take delivery of the Airbus A-319 aircraft from November onwards.

Similarly, IA has indicated that the deliveries of A-320 aircraft should be made during the period November 2004 and March 2005.

The move comes even as the airline's 43 aircraft acquisition proposal is awaiting Government approval. The IA board had, in March 2002, approved a proposal to acquire 43 Airbus aircraft an estimated cost of around Rs 10,000 crore.

Meanwhile, the proposal to induct the Airbus A-319 aircraft which will be operated by Alliance Air, IA's wholly-owned subsidiary, is likely to give a much-needed product upgrade to the latter. The 122-seater Airbus aircraft, which the eight-year old airline plans to lease, will offer passengers the choice of sitting in either economy or executive class. At present, the Boeing 737-200 aircraft operated by AA only offers seats in economy class.

The five Airbus A-319 aircraft, which will be replacement for the existing fleet of 11 Boeing aircraft being operated by the airline, are likely to arrive in time for the winter schedule operations of Alliance Air.