NEW DELHI: With its 43-aircraft purchase proposal still awaiting the government go-ahead for take-off, the state-owned Indian Airlines is cruising towards the leasing market to enhance its fleet and take on increasing competition in domestic and international skies.
The airline has invited global tenders to take 10 Airbus A320 aircraft on drylease with deliveries between October 2005 and March 2006.
These aircraft will be deployed on IA’s domestic, southeast Asia and Gulf routes, the government sources told The Times of India.
IA is now facing increased competition from new lowcost start-ups in the domestic market while Jet Airways and Air Sahara are preparing to enhance their presence in the southeast Asian skies this winter and threatening to eat into the PSU airline’s marketshare. Its $2-billion proposal is still awaiting the crucial CCEA clearance before the airline can start placing orders.
With the acquisition proposal still hanging fire, the airline has decided to take these aircraft on lease for up to five years.
IA has decided to lease only those A320 planes which are powered by V2500 A1 or CFM56-5B engines.
It has fixed June 15 as the last date for receiving bids from interested parties. IA also plans to sub-lease some of these aircraft to its wholly-owned arm Alliance Air. “The airline has decided to take only less than 15 year old aircraft which will be in two-class configuration seating — 20 Business Class and 126 Economy class.
Given the rising levels of service standards in the domestic skies, IA has also sought in-flight entertainment systems in the aircraft. Low cost airlines — Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines — have raised the service bar in the domestic skies with the introduction of personal television screens, on-air radio and even freebies for the Economy Class passenger.
The entry of Kingfisher and SpiceJet have already taken discount air fares to a new low. One-way domestic air tickets are now available — under discount and inaugural schemes — for as low as Rs 99.
In keeping with its plans to expand its network, IA plans to recruit 167 pilots. The airline has sought an A-320 endorsement or a jet endorsement with 500 hours of airline jet experience as the technical qualification to apply for the ‘senior trainee pilot’ post.
The airline has invited global tenders to take 10 Airbus A320 aircraft on drylease with deliveries between October 2005 and March 2006.
These aircraft will be deployed on IA’s domestic, southeast Asia and Gulf routes, the government sources told The Times of India.
IA is now facing increased competition from new lowcost start-ups in the domestic market while Jet Airways and Air Sahara are preparing to enhance their presence in the southeast Asian skies this winter and threatening to eat into the PSU airline’s marketshare. Its $2-billion proposal is still awaiting the crucial CCEA clearance before the airline can start placing orders.
With the acquisition proposal still hanging fire, the airline has decided to take these aircraft on lease for up to five years.
IA has decided to lease only those A320 planes which are powered by V2500 A1 or CFM56-5B engines.
It has fixed June 15 as the last date for receiving bids from interested parties. IA also plans to sub-lease some of these aircraft to its wholly-owned arm Alliance Air. “The airline has decided to take only less than 15 year old aircraft which will be in two-class configuration seating — 20 Business Class and 126 Economy class.
Given the rising levels of service standards in the domestic skies, IA has also sought in-flight entertainment systems in the aircraft. Low cost airlines — Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines — have raised the service bar in the domestic skies with the introduction of personal television screens, on-air radio and even freebies for the Economy Class passenger.
The entry of Kingfisher and SpiceJet have already taken discount air fares to a new low. One-way domestic air tickets are now available — under discount and inaugural schemes — for as low as Rs 99.
In keeping with its plans to expand its network, IA plans to recruit 167 pilots. The airline has sought an A-320 endorsement or a jet endorsement with 500 hours of airline jet experience as the technical qualification to apply for the ‘senior trainee pilot’ post.
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