Boeing says narrow bodies will dominate sales

Neelam Mathews

Sept 4, 2012

While Indian carriers will need 1,450 new airplanes valued at $175 billion dollars,of which 83% will be single aisles, interestingly, it gives only a 1%  (15) in its current market outlook -2011-2031- to regional jets. While it says 234 will be twin aisles, the outlook forecasts no sales for large jets such as the A380 and 747-8.

Boeing does not see the ultra large jets selling here. “Everybody wants frequency. Worldwide, the size is going down. No one will take the risk….(as a result of major losses in the airline business in India),” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president of sales, Asia Pacific and India. It may be recalled that Kingfisher had wanted to start its first flight when allowed international operations from Bangalore to San Francisco. The flight never took off as numbers weren't there  and the aircraft was subsequently given to Africa's Arik Air.

This is in sharp contrast to Thai Airways that will take delivery of the first of its six A380-800s on 27 September and operate flights to and from Bangkok-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Singapore starting October 6.

Word is still unclear on the 787 front. “Three Boeing 787 Dreamliners are ready for delivery. It is up to the airline (Air India) when it takes their delivery….. Boeing 787s are the fundamentally right planes for the turnaround of Air India," said Keskar. 

Looks like with all the dilly dallying,  Air India has still to realize that!

It was India’s loss when Ethiopian Airlines, the first airline in the world outside Japan took delivery of its 787 which it will start to fly to London Heathrow on September 13.

Boeing has added a third production line to its 787 program, moving towards a production rate of 10 per month by the end of 2013.