Boeing sees India demand at $130 bn

There is strength and resilience in Indias commercial aviation sector over the long term, said Dinesh Keskar,president,Boeing India. The potential for future growth of air travel,both domestically and internationally,is among the greatest in the world and Boeing will continue with its efforts to be Indias preferred partner and aerospace provider. As the world economy shrank during 2008-2009,the airlines were faced with higher operating costs on account of huge fuel bills.

Indian carriers had placed an order for 164 planes for $25 billion from Boeing and 410 passenger jets for about $40 billion from Airbus.

However,the air travel picked up in the second half of 2009. Indian carriers flew 89.36 million passengers locally during 2009-10,recording a growth of 12 per cent. Low-cost carriers like SpiceJet and IndiGo who have ambitions of going international are drawing expansion strategies. While SpiceJet has ordered 30 new Boeing planes for an estimated $2.7 billion, IndiGo has received the governments clearance for fleet expansion.