Indian carriers need $50 bn over 10 years to pay for planes: CAPA
06 Aug 2018
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Indian carriers, will require a $50 billion of financing to take the scheduled delivery of planes ordered by them, over the next nearly 10 years.
According to a report by Sydney-based aviation think-tank Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa), with a total of 1,055 aircraft on order, as many as 100 planes comprising wide-body, narrow-body and those for regional operations are scheduled for delivery to Indian carriers each year for the next five years.
To take these deliveries, Indian carriers will require an estimated $50 billion of financing until 2027, Capa said.
Stating that the unexpected recovery in Indian aviation since 2014 has changed the dynamics of the market and the demand for aircraft, CAPA said, "Positive market conditions have led Indian carriers to place bets on expansion on an unprecedented scale, with as many as 723 aircraft ordered since 2014 and more orders expected."
India's domestic market has grown at around 20 per cent year over the last three years years and a similar expansion is expected in the current financial year, it said.
Meanwhile, international traffic has also grown steadily at 8-10 per cent per annum in recent years, it added.
Projected fleet expansion represents a major opportunity for aircraft investors looking to deploy capital in new generation assets, the report said, adding, "However, despite the strength of underlying demand, operators in the Indian market face a number of challenges."
"On the cost front, Indian carriers pay some of the highest fuel taxation in the world and also incur taxes on aircraft leases. While on the supply side, infrastructure and skills shortages (particularly commanders) are potential constraints on growth," said the CAPA report.
