- Dehavilland’s Twin Otters also ordered by Indian airline FlyBig
- Clearly today was India’s day too
By Sangeeta Saxena
Paris. 20 June 2023. Day 2 at Paris Air Show 2023 was also India’s as far as big ticket contracts are concerned. Air India the previous national carrier now a Tata’s enterprise distributed goodies to both Airbus and Boeing. 250 planes from Airbus and 220 from Boeing are the staggering numbers. These include 210 A320neo and A321neo narrowbody jets and 40 A350 widebodies from Airbus and 190 narrowbody 737 MAXs, plus 20 787 Dreamliner and 10 777X widebodies from Boeing.
Proof enough that the civil aviation sector in India is actually on the revival path and airlines on an expansion mode. And above all the Boeing-Airbus one-upmanship, which has traditionally been the Day1 story at Farnborough and Le Bourget for decades, resurfaced after a break. Signs of satisfaction that all is getting well in the aviation world.
“Our ambitious fleet renewal and expansion programme will see Air India operate the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft across our route network within five years,” Air India Chief Executive Campbell Wilson said in a statement. Post the take over of Air India by the Tatas , Air India has been seeing a revamping exercise both physically and psychologically both for itself and the customers. Expansion of fleet and increasing of routes is a major plan as visible and who but the OEMs benefit with this drive.
Airbus and Boeing have been great success stories as far as the commercial aviation in India goes. Earlier Aero India and now Paris Air Show have reiterated it. Day 2 at Le Bourget clearly was Air India’s and victory shared by both the European and American aircraft majors.
“Air India’s selection of Boeing’s family of passenger jets shows their confidence in our products and services in the world’s fastest growing aviation market, and their decision will support engineering and manufacturing jobs at Boeing factories in Washington state, South Carolina and across our supply base,” said Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the industry-leading fuel efficiency of the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner and 777X, Air India is well positioned to achieve its expansion plans and become a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.”
Under the direction of Vihaan.AI, Air India is working its way through a significant five-year transformation roadmap with the goal of becoming a top-tier airline with a heart for India. The taxi phase, the first stage of this change, which just ended, was concerned with making the fundamentals right. These included, among other things, putting back into service numerous long-stranded aircraft, adding expertise across flying and ground activities, quickly updating technology, and stepping up customer care initiatives.
It plans to invest more than USD 200MM in digital and technology and has committed over USD 400MM to entirely renovating the cabins of all wide-body aircraft. Air India placed the largest-ever order for 470 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus in January 2023 as part of its restructuring initiatives, and they will begin to be added to its fleet later that year. With an upgraded fleet, network, and on-time performance, the airline is rethinking its value proposition to customers.
Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD of Air India, Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, and Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia, all witnessed the signing of the purchase agreements for the aircraft as well as the letters of intent for maintenance and digital services.
“We are excited to be a key partner in the renaissance of the Flying Maharaja. Under the leadership of the Tata Group and a focussed new management, this is one of the most ambitious projects in the airline business today. We are proud that the efficiencies, comfort and range capability offered by our latest generation aircraft will contribute to the process, as Air India reclaims its rightful position as a world-class premium carrier. The Airbus services package is a perfect future-oriented choice that will form a core element of Air India’s transformation,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at Airbus.
A wide range of solutions, such as parts and maintenance supply, digital applications, and modification services, will be provided to Air India by Satair, an Airbus firm, and Boeing Global Services. Later this year, the Airbus A350 will take the lead in delivering the new aircraft, with the majority of the order arriving starting in mid-2025.
Air India was the first airline in India and was founded by the illustrious JRD Tata. Air India has established a vast domestic network since taking off on its inaugural flight on October 15, 1932, and it also connects with non-stop flights to cities throughout the world, including those in the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, the Far East, South-East Asia, Australia, and the Gulf. In January 2022, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group after 69 years as a government-owned company. In N Chandrashekaran’s presence, agreements for maintenance and digital services were inked.
Air India has already started taking delivery of 11 leased B777 and 25 A320 aircraft to accelerate its fleet and network expansion. Member of Star Alliance, the largest global airline consortium of leading international airlines, Air India offers seamless connectivity and facilities to passengers all over the world.
The second story which caught a lot of eyeballs was the De Havilland Canada and flybig reaching a purchase agreement at Le Bourget, providing for the acquisition of two Twin Otter 400 series aircraft as well as a letter of interest for the purchase of 10 new aircraft DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G.
“The Twin Otters are the perfect aircraft for India’s UDAN regional airport development programme, which is part of its Regional Connectivity Scheme ( RCS ) component aimed at improving underserved air routes, said said Sanjay Mandavia, President and Managing Director of flybig “Our two 400 Series aircraft will help realize our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to connect India’s hinterland, and we look forward to working with De Havilland Canada on potential future acquisitions of the new Classic 300-G.”
The new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G, which joins the existing DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400, represents the fifth generation of Twin Otter aircraft. All DHC-6 Twin Otters carry people, move freight, conduct medivac operations, transport VIPs, and carry out special missions in the most hostile terrain on earth. These aircraft effortlessly transition between paved surfaces and water landing zones when equipped with amphibious floats.
“We are proud to welcome flybig as our first Twin Otter Series 400 operator in India, and for them to explore a potential future purchase of 10 new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft,” said Brian Chafe, Chief Executive Officer, De Havilland Canada. “Helping connect remote communities is at the heart of what these aircraft are all about.”
As the Day 2 ended at Le Bourget one fact was evident that in a scenario when the world is facing an economic crisis, Indian economy is zooming ahead.
