The Hindu Business Line : Airbus hopeful of more orders for A-380 from India

In talks: The Chief Executive Officer, Airbus Industrie, Mr Tom Enders, flanked by the President, Airbus India, Dr Kiran Rao (left) and the Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Mr John Leahy, at a press conference in the Capital on Tuesday. - Kamal Narang

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Oct 30

The European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus Industrie, is in talks with Air India for the airline to acquire 10-12 Airbus A-380 aircraft, the Chief Operating Officer, Customer, Mr John Leahy, said on Tuesday.

"We hope to soon have a few more orders from India apart from adding Air India to the A-380 programme. If Air India were to decide to go with the A-380 in the next few months, then we would be in a position to deliver the aircraft by 2011-12," Mr Leahy said at a press conference.

The A-380, which is capable of carrying up to 850 passengers in a single class configuration and can fly non-stop between Delhi and New York or Los Angeles, entered commercial service with Singapore Airline earlier this month close to 18 months later than originally planned. Currently, Kingfisher Airline is the only airline from India to have ordered the A-380 aircraft.

FASTEST GROWING MARKETS

Addressing the media, the Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tom Enders, said India was not only an important but also one of the fastest growing markets for the aircraft manufacturer.

"You have seen nothing as yet. In the years to come, the partnership between Airbus and India would grow. A number of the existing and new partnerships that we have in India continue to impress us," Mr Enders said.

The CEO felt that it was no accident that India was the first overseas country he was visiting since taking over at Airbus. "Through this visit we want to reinforce the excellent relationship that Airbus enjoys with India and develop more meaningful and beneficial partnerships," Mr Enders added.

The President of Airbus India, Dr Kiran Rao, said that India would require at least 1,100 aircraft during the next 20 years valued at around $105 billion.