Neelam Mathews

A growing appetite among Indian carriers to serve regional routes makes the country a potentially big market for 250 regional jets with a capacity of up to 120 seats, according to Brazilian airframer Embraer. Twin-turboprop manufacturer ATR estimates in the next five years India will requirearound 100 aircraft,and 200 in the longer term.


Despite SpiceJet having selected 15 Bombardier Q400s, more than 80 percent of regional turboprops flying or on order in India are ATRs. With fuel in India more expensive than the world average, regional carriers are facing increased operating costs and many of the country’s provincial airports have relatively short runways, which can constrict jet operations.


ATR is soon to make an announcement about a new Indian MRO provider. The manufacturer already has a customer support center and warehouse in Singapore and training facilities in Bangkok.


In India, around 250 low- to medium-density routes remain unused, as they are not profitable to run with narrowbody jets. Beyond the major Indian cities, 133 routes have less than one frequency a day. “This doesn’t provide adequate frequency to passengers,” said Alex Glock, Embraer’s airline market vice president for the Asia Pacific region. “No wonder other forms of transport are used such as first-class rail with fares of air travel [being so high].”


In India’s smaller cities, where populations tend to be in the millions, the Q400 will shake up the transport market, said SpiceJet chief executive Neil Mills. “We’re flying to airports that lack suitable infrastructure and are incapable of handling narrowbodies,” he said. “We are a low-cost carrier that is flying into regional markets. If I could have flown into some of these smaller markets with a Boeing [737] and kept the business simple, that’s exactly what I would have done. I can’t because of infrastructure constraints, so I needed a different machine.”


But Mills conceded that testing these new routes could prove to be hit or miss. Initially, SpiceJet will test the Q400s on a limited number of city pairs and will withdraw the aircraft from routes that are not working.


SpiceJet operates a fleet of 30 Boeing 737-800s and 737-900ERs. It recently announced an order for 30 B737-800s, fitted with winglets.


As numerous regional airlines start to get ready to launch operations, Bengaluru-based Regional Airport-Holdings International (Rahi) said it will concentrate its business on regional airports even as it firms up its business plan for a new air taxi operation. With the first movement at Gulbarga–one of the two airports in the south of India under construction by Rahi– planned for May 1, the group’s founder-chairman Umesh Kumar Baveja, is optimistic about long-term growth prospects. “We are looking at serving hinterlands rather than the [metropolitan areas],” he told AIN. “Rahi may acquire half of the 99 airports we plan to operate by 2025. This is not ambitious given that ministry of civil aviation has plans to set up 500 airports by 2020.”


&nbsp;

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

The Rise Of India’s Regional Carriers

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

All-composite light jet will feature windowless cabin

Otto’s Phantom Bizjet Promises Midsize Performance and Comfort

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Manufacturer is exhibiting this week at Catarina Aviation Show in São Paulo

Brazil ANAC Approves Ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700

Curt Epstein

The annual event featured hundreds of exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors

NBAA Northeast Regional Draws Crowds to White Plains

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Agreement calls for orders of up to 200 of Joby's four-passenger vehicles 

Saudi Group Agrees to be Distributor For Joby's eVTOL Aircraft

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

AirVenture 2025 to host two of the company’s airships

Goodyear Blimp Celebrates a Century in Flight

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

First pilot-on-board flights featured conventional takeoffs and landings

Archer’s Midnight eVTOL Aircraft Starts Piloted Test Flights

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Singapore Air Show 2012

More In Aircraft

Otto’s Phantom Bizjet Promises Midsize Performance and Comfort

All-composite light jet will feature windowless cabin

Brazil ANAC Approves Ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700

Manufacturer is exhibiting this week at Catarina Aviation Show in São Paulo

NBAA Northeast Regional Draws Crowds to White Plains

The annual event featured hundreds of exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors

Saudi Group Agrees to be Distributor For Joby's eVTOL Aircraft

Agreement calls for orders of up to 200 of Joby's four-passenger vehicles

Goodyear Blimp Celebrates a Century in Flight

AirVenture 2025 to host two of the company’s airships

Archer’s Midnight eVTOL Aircraft Starts Piloted Test Flights

First pilot-on-board flights featured conventional takeoffs and landings

Pipistrel’s Velis Electro Is a Trailblazer for Electric Aviation

Textron subsidiary Pipistrel is the first manufacturer that has certified an electric aircraft.

Citation: Cessna’s Revolutionary Jet

Cessna’s original Citation broke new ground for small business jets

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN