The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
BLOOMBERG
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd, a leading manufacturer of turboprop planes, is aiming to win 80% of India’s small-plane market as the country seeks to bolster connectivity in far-flung corners and over rugged terrain.
The company is expecting India to have as many as 120 small aircraft that seat less than 20 passengers in the next 10 years, Yogesh Garg, the manufacturer’s Asia Pacific sales director, said in an interview in New Delhi on the sidelines of the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers India conference.
Small planes are key for India, the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, to connect tiny towns, hilly areas and islands that have a budding population of first-time flyers. Airbus SE estimates India will need 2,210 aircraft by 2040, with most of them being smaller jets.
De Havilland will face competition from the 19-seater Dornier 228 aircraft.
The Hindustan Aeronautics made-in-India plane is used by the armed forces, while Alliance Air has one.
Better access to regional travel could help revive tourism and air traffic in India after the pandemic gutted travel. The government has allocated $544 million under a regional connectivity program to develop 100 inadequately served airports, heliports and water aerodromes, in addition to opening 1,000 new routes by next year. It is also giving subsidies to airlines to offer passengers cheaper fares on regional routes.
Budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd is in discussions with De Havilland for five Twin Otter seaplanes, typically found in the Maldives shuttling tourists to resorts.