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October 31, 2007 17:49 IST
Air India is likely to take a decision on buying long haul aircraft like Airbus A-380 in December after studying a variety of aircraft.
"The requirements for more aircraft is for the period post 2011-12, when the current order of 111 aircraft would have been completed.
"At the moment we are involved in a study to estimate how many aircraft are required and what variety these should be. We are taking a composite average market growth of 15 per cent per annum," Air India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.
He said the aircraft would be ordered keeping in mind the idea of making India a global hub for aviation as also considering the market growth.
Thulasidas refused to speculate on whether the entire order would be placed with one aircraft manufacturer or split between both Boeing and Airbus.
Airbus Chief Operating Officer John Leahy said on Tuesday Airbus was holding talks with Air India for sale of about 10-12 A-380 aircraft and the delivery could begin from 2011-12 only if the order was placed within next two months.
"They will have to go by our delivery schedule and not us. Whosoever will give us a better delivery schedule, we will go for that," Thulasidas quipped when asked about the possibility of buying Airbus.
The CMD said acquisition plan of Air India was not limited to only long, medium and short haul variety of aircraft but also at picking up cargo aircraft and regional jets.
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