Number game: Air India may ramp up fleet to 200
5 Sep, 2007, 0225 hrs IST, TNN
NEW DELHI: National carrier Air India may substantially scale up its fleet size to nearly 200 aircraft by 2011. It is currently undertaking an internal exercise to assess demand for aircraft till 2011 and beyond, company chairman V Thulasidas told ET.
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“An optimum fleet size of around 200 aircraft would give the airline more bargaining power while negotiating for contracts,” Mr Thulasidas said. Most international carriers have an average fleet strength of 200 aircraft. Air India is currently looking at the option of setting up a hub in Europe, with Munich and Vienna, being strong contenders, the CMD said.
The holding company of Air India, National Aviation Company Ltd is currently in the process of restructuring its business into half-a-dozen independent units, to be headed by directors. A special task group has also been set up to look at the possibility of spinning off other business units such as IT and catering departments as SBUs.
Air India is also set to join STAR Alliance, one of the three global airline alliances. This would help it interconnect better with other airlines and improve its connectivity within its network.