Air India fleet expansion a necessity: former AI chief
Nearly two decades ago, the then government-owned Air India had an "extremely small fleet" of aircraft that was also prone to frequent breakdowns. Then, aircraft were taken on lease and later the airline placed orders for 111 planes.
V Thulasidas
New Delhi: Nearly two decades ago, the then government-owned Air India had an "extremely small fleet" of aircraft that was also prone to frequent breakdowns. Then, aircraft were taken on lease and later the airline placed orders for 111 planes.
In the wake of Air India placing firm orders for 470 planes, V Thulasidas, who was the airline's chief from December 2003 to March 2008, said there was a necessity for fleet augmentation that will also help address the long standing grievance that most of the Indians travelling international are carried by foreign airlines. Prior to the latest order, the last time Air India placed orders for aircraft was in 2005 for 111 aircraft during the time of Thulasidas. While stressing the importance of international aviation hubs, he said India can have many such hubs as there are now world class airports and strong airlines.
"It is us who gave away the (international) hubs to Singapore, Dubai and other places,” he said.
