Aircraft

Air India is putting together proposals which could result in orders for around 60 more aircraft, including the Airbus A380.

The state-run carrier's chairman V. Thulasidas said at an event in New Delhi in July marking the delivery of the first of eight Boeing 777-200LRs for the airline, that "about 60" new aircraft may be ordered to support replacement and growth requirements and to help the airline compete with privately owned Indian operators and foreign carriers that have been boosting services to India.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel said that the carrier's fleet expansion studies will be looked at by the government in the coming weeks after proposals are submitted. Airbus and Boeing aircraft will be considered, he said, including the ultra-large A380.

Air India is being prepared for a merger with fellow state-owned carrier Indian Airlines and legal formalities are about to be completed.

Both carriers have been modernising and expanding their fleets, Air India with firm orders for 68 737s, 777s and 787s from Boeing and Indian Airlines with firm orders for 43 A320 family aircraft from Airbus.

The enlarged airline's fleet will comprise around 110 aircraft at the time of the merger with deliveries of the remaining Airbus and Boeing aircraft on order due to be delivered through 2011.

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