The Hindu Business Line : `Jet, Air India, Air Deccan interested in A380'

New Delhi May 6 Air India, Jet Airways and Air Deccan have all shown an interest in acquiring the world's largest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380, the company's Chief Operating Officer (Customers), Mr John Leahy, said on Sunday.

"We have had discussions with Air India and Jet Airways. Besides, the Managing Director of Air Deccan, Capt G.R. Gopinath, was on the flight from Toulouse and he showed an interest in operating the aircraft in India in an all-economy configuration. Capt Gopinath is convinced that Air Deccan can offer fares that are lower than what are charged by the Rajdhani Express trains if they operate the A380 aircraft," Mr Leahy said.

Kingfisher deal

Kingfisher Airline will, however, be the first Indian carrier to operate the A380 aircraft, although it may not be the first airline to operate the aircraft in the Indian skies. "Our contract with Kingfisher specifies that it has to be the first Indian airline to operate the A380. The airline will receive the first aircraft in 2011 before which Emirates, Lufthansa and other global airlines would have started operations and could possibly operate it to India," Mr Leahy said.

The company estimates that India would require about 50 A380-type of aircraft in the next 20 years, the Executive Vice-President, Marketing and Contracts, Dr Kiran Rao, added. "This would translate into business worth at least $15 billion given that the current list price of the A-380 is $300 million," Mr Leahy said.

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