The Hindu Business Line : Air India, Boeing facility to be operational by 2009

Bullish on India: Dr Ian Thomas, President, Boeing India (right), with Mr Brian J. Nelson, Director, International Communications Intergrated Defence Systems, Boeing, at a press conference in the Capital on Thursday.

New Delhi, Feb. 14 The US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing plans to have the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) that it is setting up with Air India at Nagpur operational by 2009, a senior company official said on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, the Boeing India President, Dr Ian Thomas, said the ground breaking ceremony for the new facility would be held during the course of this year itself.

Boeing has committed to invest $100 million in the MRO project, apart from additional investments in setting up a pilot training establishment for Air India.

Asked whether Boeing would be interested in investing in mining titanium in India as the Government now allows 100 per cent foreign direct investment in such project, Dr Thomas said that the company was not currently considering that option.

Boeing officials said that the company was not interested in titanium as a raw material or in mining it despite being one of the largest users of the metal globally.

Dr Thomas indicated that Air India would receive the first of the 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft sometime in 2009.

The delivery of the aircraft has been delayed and now it is expected to enter service globally only in 2009 instead of mid-2008.

Commenting on the Indian defence market, Dr Thomas said that the Asia-Pacific region, which includes India, was the largest regional defence market for Boeing.

“India offers a $10-15 billion defence market over the next 10 years. Besides, we estimate that India would require more than 900 civil aircraft worth $86 billion during the next 20 years,” Dr Thomas said.