The Hindu Business Line : IA considering leasing options

Apart from drawing up a schedule for leasing large aircraft, keeping in mind the Government's clearance process to purchase them, a technical committee of the airline is also examining the requirement of leasing more ATR aircraft for operation on non-trunk routes. Official sources told Business Line that though IA was on schedule as far as the leasing of Airbus A-319, A-320 and wide-bodied aircraft was concerned, with the Public Investment Board (PIB) clearing the 43 aircraft purchase proposal, it would match the possible deliveries of the aircraft with its leasing proposal before taking a final decision on how many aircraft should be leased.

The airline earlier had planned to lease up to 11 Airbus A-319 aircraft and was also looking at leasing some Airbus A-320 aircraft. The IA board had also cleared a proposal for nine wide-body aircraft.

When contacted, the IA Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Sunil Arora, said: "It would not be correct for me to second-guess the exact time table of the CCEA. But depending on the time table of the CCEA and speedy clearance of the project, the airline will match the requirement of the aircraft which have to be acquired and leased." Officials said the central goal was and remains replacing the ageing Boeing 737 fleet currently being flown by Alliance Air with Airbus A-319 aircraft starting with the winter schedule of 2005. However, officials were quick to point out that there was nothing wrong with the Boeing aircraft in the Alliance fleet except for the fact that they were old.