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G.R.N. Somashekar

Dr Dinesh Keskar (right), President, Boeing India, and Mr Dr Vivek Lall, Vice-President and India Country Head, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, at a press conference in Bangalore on Tuesday. —

K. Giriprakash

Bangalore, Feb. 10

Airbus Industrie will not turn up for the latest edition of the aero show even as its competitor Boeing has heightened its campaign against the European commercial aircraft maker over the viability of its showpiece A380.

“Even though we launched our Dreamliner B787 four years after A380 was launched, we have sold at least four times more than their aircraft,” Boeing India President, Mr Dinesh Keskar, told Business Line. Nearly 900 of Boeing 787s have been sold so far across the globe.

Air India itself is buying 27 of these aircraft whose list price is around $200 million. However, the delivery of the aircraft is expected to be delayed and Boeing might compensate the Indian flag carrier for the delay. “We will surely compensate Air India for the delay in the delivery of the Dreamliner,” Mr Keskar said.

He said with increase in frequency and more airlines flying international routes, the need for aircraft with extremely high capacity was unnecessary. “There are more point-to-point flights these days than ever before, and hence, there is no need to have aircraft with huge capacities,” he added. Airbus A380 has about 555 seats, while the Dreamliner has a maximum of 270 seats depending on the seat configuration.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Airbus Industrie, Mr Ajay Mehra, said that Airbus will not participate in the Aero Show because the Bangalore event was primarily meant for the defence sector. “Our parent, EADS, will, however, participate in the event,” Mr Mehra said. Airbus Industrie participated in the Hyderabad Air Show held late last year.

Mr Keskar said its $100 million MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) project in Nagpur was on schedule. The MRO project and the $75-million training centre are part of the aircraft deal with Air India.

Boeing signed an agreement with Air India in 2006 to sell 68 commercial jets worth over $11 billion at list price. The aircraft order includes sale of the B787s, B777s and B737s.

According to Boeing’s projections in 2008, India will need 1,001 aircraft worth $105 billion in another 20 years. Mr Keskar pointed out that in spite of the recession in the industry, not a single domestic airline in India has cancelled aircraft orders so far.

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