US-based aircraft engine manufacturer GE is bullish that Indian airlines will order more wide bodies as the industry revives after being ravaged by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
GE engines currently power all Indian wide bodies operated by Air India and Vistara.
“If you look at mature aviation markets like China or the US which have around 4,000 aircraft, the ratio of wide bodies is around 20-25 percent. By that same parameter, India with a fleet of 700 aircraft should have around 140 wide bodies. By 2027, when we are supposed to have 1,000 aircraft, even with a conservative estimate India should have around 150-200 wide bodies. I believe the next phase of growth in India will be the wide bodies,” said Vikram Rai, country head, GE Aviation.
