APRIL 2016 | 37 2 The country experienced the world’s greatest increase in air passenger traffic last year, up 21 percent. —I ndia’s most traveled air route connects Mumbai and New Delhi, the country’s commercial and government centers, respectively. More than 50 flights move daily in each direction; in 1992, it was just four flights per day. With low-cost airline tickets in India now equal to the highest fares on trains, more people are choosing the convenience of air travel, reducing 12- to 48-hour trips to a few hours, according to Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific & India sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. 3 Over the next 20 years, Boeing projects India will buy 1,740 commercial airplanes worth $240 billion. — Indian airlines are pursuing expanded fleets and routes like never before, a trend that will extend well into the future, according to the Boeing Current Market Outlook. “We see the growth in the market continuing,” Keskar said, noting that Boeing has a comprehensive family of airplanes that will help the country’s airlines continue to expand and prosper. A steady Boeing customer, India has received or ordered more than 300 Boeing commercial airplanes since 1960, two-thirds of them from the 737 series. Jet Airways and SpiceJet, respectively, have announced orders for 75 and 42 of the more fuel-efficient 737 MAX. 4 India ranks as one of Boeing’s largest defense customers. — India was the first international customer for the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. It has eight. And it’s the largest non-U.S. operator of the C-17 Globemaster III, with 10. The country has ordered 22 AH-64E Apaches and 15 CH-47F Chinooks. Boeing entered a joint venture with supplier Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture components for each of those rotorcraft inside the country. India also continues to purchase Boeing’s Harpoon missile. “The Indian Air Force’s C-17 aircraft and the Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft have demonstrated an excellent record in supporting the missions for which they have been deployed, and our customers have expressed satisfaction about the operational readiness of both aircraft,” said Dennis Swanson, vice president, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, India. “This builds trust with the customer and helps us win future campaigns.
Frontiers April 2016 Issue
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