Aircraft | Jyotiraditya Scindia: Big aircraft order heralds a new dawn for the civil aviation sector: Jyotiraditya Scindia

“This 470 aircraft order also comprises of roughly around 40-50 aircraft from Airbus and 40-50 aircraft from Boeing, which are going to be long haul aircraft. Other airlines are also procuring now long haul aircraft,” says Jyotiraditya Scindia, Aviation Minister

A big aircraft order that has been placed by airline. What is the larger picture that you see for the aviation sector?
Well I think first of all this underlines the potential of civil aviation in India. The very fact today that we have one of the largest orders in history of civil aviation being placed by an Indian company with regard to the two largest manufacturers of aircraft in the world, both Boeing and Airbus, an order that comprises roughly about close to 400 aircraft, 370-400 aircraft with the option of buying many more in the days to come. That speaks of the potential of growth within civil aviation. That also speaks of the value proposition that airlines will bring to bear in India in the days to come. And it heralds a new dawn for the civil aviation sector. As these aircraft of multiple airlines start getting deployed in India, both for long haul and short haul.

This 470 aircraft order also comprises of roughly around 40-50 aircraft from Airbus and 40-50 aircraft from Boeing, which are going to be long haul aircraft. Other airlines are also procuring now long haul aircraft. And this is something that we have been pursuing for a long time with our airline companies to ensure that we are able to regain our international market share as well. This also augurs very well for the whole concept of creating an international hub in India. And I think once these aircraft of multiple airlines come in, then the capability of creating an international hub in India as opposed to our international hub being with our neighbours will become a reality.
So all in all, it is a very positive affirmation of the potential of a civil aviation sector, which is something that I have always talked about, that we go through a CAGR rate, which is double figures in India for civil aviation, upwards of 10-10.5%. And looking at the number of our passengers today, which pre-Covid was roughly about 144 million domestic and 60 million international, that growing and doubling in the next four to five years.

The aircraft demand that you seek for the next like a couple of years, three to five years, you think so that the 2000 figure?
I think that we might even go beyond that. We are today at upwards of 740, 750 aircraft. In the next four to five years, I think we will come close to or maybe even cross the 2000 mark.