India Leads South Asia Air Traffic Growth for the Next Two Decades
Boeing shared projections for South Asia’s commercial aviation sector over the next 20 years, with the region leading the world in yearly passenger traffic growth. The company shared its annual South Asia and India Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) at Wings India 2022, anticipating resilient long-term demand for commercial airplanes and services following the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Asia’s air travel sector is dominated by the Indian market, which accounts for about 90 per cent of the region’s passenger traffic. India’s continued economic growth and its expanding middle class will fuel demand across South Asia for 2,400 new commercial jets valued at nearly 375 billion during the 20-year forecast period, according to Boeing.
Single-aisle airplanes will increase their share of total airplane demand to serve India’s vast domestic market and competitive regional market, which includes established carriers as well as start-up airlines. To improve and expand long-haul connectivity—especially routes from India to North America and Europe—carriers will continue to invest in versatile, fuel-efficient widebody airplanes.
“We project robust demand for air travel in South Asia with carriers increasing services, and passengers feeling confident about travel to see family and friends and do business, as well as from air cargo,” said managing director, regional marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Dave Schulte. “Key elements that will promote continued growth in the region will be the competitive domestic market and opportunities in international routes, both backed by government policies to reduce airline cost and taxes,” added Schulte.
President, Boeing India, Salil Gupte said, “India continues to develop as one of the world’s largest civil aviation markets as it ramps up its capabilities and capacity in infrastructure and services. At Boeing, we are committed to support this growth through our Make in India supplier partnerships, next-generation products and solutions, technologies and services, to advance the future of commercial aviation.”
Other insights from Boeing’s CMO forecast through 2040 include:
- Indian operators will need just over 2,000 new single-aisle airplanes to meet demand during the forecast period. Single-aisle airplanes such as the 737 family will continue to serve growth in domestic and regional markets, including flights from India to the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions.
- Indian carriers will need 240 new widebody airplanes such as the 787 Dreamliner to meet long-haul demand.
- India’s air cargo growth is expected to average 6.3 per cent annually, driven by the country’s manufacturing and e-commerce sectors, including its Make in India initiative. Boeing forecasts demand for more than 75 freighters, including 10 widebodies and 737 Boeing Converted Freighters.
- India’s civil aviation industry will require close to 100,000 new pilots, technicians and cabin crew personnel, with an increasing number of women pursuing aviation careers.
Boeing and IGRUA Explore Collaboration Opportunities: Boeing also announced plans to explore strategic collaboration opportunities to enhance safety and quality in early career flight training with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), a premier flight training organization under the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
Boeing’s strategic collaboration with IGRUA is an important step in advancing aviation training in the country through collaboration with flight training and development organisations to enhance capabilities and safety.
“IGRUA has always set the bar for training in Indian aviation. The collaboration with Boeing will help IGRUA set the bar even higher to achieve global standards. The collaboration will not just benefit the next generation of Indian pilots, but the entire aviation ecosystem of the country will benefit from Boeing’s experience in safety and quality. IGRUA is proud to be associated with Boeing,” said Director, IGRUA, Krishnendu Gupta.
IGRUA’s experience in India and the surrounding region will provide key insights into identifying opportunities for the organizations to work together in the early career flight training field.
“Boeing is committed to supporting and investing in the Indian Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision of continuing to develop India as an aviation hub,” said President, Boeing India, Salil Gupte. “Our strategic collaboration with IGRUA will look at ways to further emphasize safety and quality to aspiring airline cadets in training and throughout their careers,” added Gupte.
Boeing intends to further focus on developing both early career and professional flight training in India through collaborations, scholarships, experiential learning, innovation, and technology.
Pawan Hans to Lease Six Sikorsky S-76D; Sign IOC With HAL for 20 Helicopters
Pawan Hans Limited (PHL), a Government of India company under Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that it signed agreements for the leasing of six Sikorsky S-76D helicopters from The Milestone Aviation Group Limited (Milestone), the global leader in helicopter leasing. The announcement was made during the Wings India event in Hyderabad, India.
The aircraft will support Pawan Hans’ onshore and offshore helicopter operations in India with a contract to operate two S-76D helicopters for the Government of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
In addition to the six helicopters, of which five have already delivered, Milestone and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company are also providing PHL with comprehensive value and sustainment packages to support the phasing-in of this new helicopter type into its fleet.
Speaking at Wings India, chairman and managing director of PHL, Sanjeev Razdan said, “Pawan Hans is the market leader and is very selective in bringing the ideal technology relevant for the Indian market. In the medium twin category, the S-76D is the ideal aircraft to support our offshore operations in South Asia. The helicopter has been launched with a completely new maintenance and support philosophy by PHL.
With agreements in place with several OEMs, and the introduction of the technologically advanced S-76D helicopter, Pawan Hans is playing a pivotal role in bringing next-generation helicopter operations to the Indian market.”
Head of Emerging Markets at Milestone, Michael York said, “The S-76D is a new helicopter platform type for Pawan Hans that will enhance their operations with greater capabilities and advanced technologies. Through this transaction, we are not only cultivating a new operator for the S-76D but also starting a long-term relationship between Milestone and Pawan Hans.”
“The Milestone team has worked hard to put together a comprehensive value package for Pawan Hans. This value package is a key differentiator for Milestone and illustrates the depth of service capability that we offer, bringing tailor-made solutions to our customers. Milestone is proud to have been selected by Pawan Hans as their leasing partner and we thank them for the trust they have placed in us.”
“We welcome Pawan Hans into the Lockheed Martin family, and we value our continued relationship with Milestone. Lockheed Martin is thrilled that Pawan Hans is introducing the S-76D aircraft to the Indian market to perform critical offshore oil and gas transport missions,” said Chief Executive Lockheed Martin India, Bill Blair. “Selection of these advanced aircraft combined with Sikorsky’s support services will ensure high availability rates for customers that rightly demand reliability and performance and are aligned with Lockheed Martin’s focus on such an important region”.
The legendary S-76 helicopter operates successfully in more than 40 countries on six continents, fulfilling its many missions in varied environmental conditions. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company has delivered more than 875 S-76 helicopters to customers globally since 1977, contributing daily to a growing total of more than 7.5 million flight hours. The S-76D helicopter, through its application of modern technologies, is designed to provide a substantial increase in performance, power and value.
Meanwhile, PHL also signed an Intent of Cooperation (IOC) with HAL for purchase or long-term lease for 20 helicopters, 10 each civil variants of ALH Dhruv and Light Utility Helicopters at the ongoing Wings India-2022 at Hyderabad. This would also bring synergy between HAL and PHL in helicopter ecosystem and strengthen helicopter business in India’s civil aviation market.
The IOC was signed between CMD, PHL, Sanjeev Razdan and CEO, Helicopter Complex, HAL, S Anbuvelan in the presence of minister of civil aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, minister of roads, buildings, legislative affairs and housing, Telangana, Vemula Prashanth Reddy CMD, HAL, R Madhavan and others.
RR Explores Opportunities for its Trent Engines for Widebody Aircraft at Wings-22
Rolls-Royce is keen to explore opportunities in the growing Indian civil aviation market, the company said in a statement. At the Wings India 2022 event in Hyderabad, the company is focused on familiarising customers with its advanced Trent family of engines, including the Trent 700, Trent 1000, Trent 7000 and Trent XWB.
The Trent family is the most successful widebody programme and Trent powered fleets account for over 25 per cent of all engine flying hours on routes to and from India today. All of Rolls-Royce engines are certified to run on a blend of up to 50 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and Rolls-Royce is committed to making all its engines compatible with 100 percent SAF by the end of 2023.
President, India & South Asia, Rolls-Royce, Kishore Jayaraman said, “Rolls-Royce has a strong legacy of partnership with India starting with powering the first commercial aircraft of Tata in 1932, and since then we have been contributing towards the development of a strong aerospace ecosystem in India. With India poised to become the third largest air passenger market, Rolls-Royce is well-positioned to meet the demands of a growing civil aerospace sector. As India sees more domestic and international routes opening, there is a strong case for induction of widebody aircraft into the fleet mix of airlines in India.”
Senior vice president customers-Asia Pacific, Chris Davie said, “With superior technology solutions and a strong presence in the aerospace ecosystem, Rolls-Royce is ready to support India’s growing aviation market. With more international routes opening up, passengers will seek more value and reliability especially when flying long haul routes. Modern widebody aircraft offer huge advantages to airlines that want to increase their capability and capture a growing market for long haul travel to and from India. In line with our commitment to offer cleaner and more efficient power, our Trent engines have been setting performance benchmarks for civil aviation with their fuel-efficiency, and cleaner, quieter operations. At Wings India, we are excited to engage with our customers and other stakeholders to explore the opportunities in this market.”
Rolls-Royce have a strong supply chain for Trent engine components in India. Last year at Aero India, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was awarded new business from Rolls-Royce to supply forgings including shrouds, cases and seals for Rolls-Royce’s Trent family of engines and for the Pearl 15 engines.
The Trent XWB is to be the most efficient widebody aero engine in service today and is the latest generation addition to the Trent family of engines. The Trent XWB has been employed by airlines all around the world on a variety of missions from domestic to ultra-long-haul routes. Globally, Trent engines are currently in service on the Airbus A330, A340, A350, and A380, as well as the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner.
Airbus Partners with Airlift Global to Foster Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in India
Airbus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airlift Global, a company backed by United Kingdom-based AUM Capital to foster helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and associated air medical services in India.
The MoU was signed at Wings India 2022, India’s flagship civil aviation event, by Head of Airbus Helicopters, Airbus India and South Asia, Sunny Guglani and Director, Airlift Global, Jayeis B Sonill in the presence of the British Deputy High Commissioner to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Dr Andrew Fleming and British First Secretary of Trade, Niall Ahern. Under the partnership, Airbus and Airlift Global will collaborate to develop a pilot project integrating air ambulance and medical emergency services, aimed at fostering improved healthcare accessibility and connectivity within both urban and rural environments of India.
Airbus and Airlift Global will identify key frameworks, roadmaps and viable investment instruments necessary to support and sustain credible, impactful emergency air medical services deployment in India. Both organisations will also conduct joint research on HEMS and air ambulance services and will encourage standardisation of operations of these services with established healthcare and related service providers. Both organisations will also form working groups of industry experts and professionals to drive awareness about HEMS.
“HEMS is a globally established best practice. There is an urgent need for this service in India. HEMS can save lives by ferrying patients and/or accident victims within the ‘Golden Hour’, help in organ transportation and taking healthcare to the remotest parts of our country,” said Sunny Guglani.
“A HEMS ecosystem needs to be built in India in partnership with government bodies, global service providers and helicopter OEMs. Our partnership with Airlift Global is a step in the direction of developing this critical segment of healthcare in India,” Guglani added.
Jayeis B Sonill of Airlift Global commented, “We are pleased to be given the opportunity to assist in the development of HEMS operations in India and help serve patients in their most critical hour of need. Working alongside key partners, including state government agencies, medical service providers and other stakeholders, the sustainable establishment and equitable accessibility of this vital emergency medical air service will be paramount for modern India and better serve humanity. The UK has a long history of HEMS and we look forward to sharing our insights and expertise for the common societal good.”
About 70 per cent of India’s population lives in rural areas with limited access to quick and quality healthcare. Helicopters can bridge this gap by not only transporting patients from rural areas to equipped hospitals but also transporting medical teams to remote locations. The ministry of road transportation and highways too has recognised the utility of helicopters in saving lives and has implemented HEMS in its plans for new expressways across the country.
Airbus helicopters have been working on various life-saving missions for more than five decades. The organisation offers a range of helicopters recognised for their suitability for HEMS operations, speed and reliability, modular cabins, excellent manoeuvrability, the ability to land anywhere and low operating costs.