| This would make India the third largest market for new aircraft in Asia, behind China (1,790) and Japan (640), according to Airbus' Global Market Forecast 2004-2023. |
| While all domestic carriers have embarked on ambitious expansion, about a dozen other companies have announced plans to launch new services keeping in mind the rising air traffic in the country. |
| It has been projected that total air traffic in India will rise by 5 million passengers each year over the next ten years. In 2004, the traffic grew by over 30 per cent to touch an all-time high figure of 23 million passengers. |
| The government has also allowed domestic carriers with five years of experience and a fleet of at least 20 aircraft to fly abroad. This is also expected to result in larger orders for aircraft makers such as Airbus. |
| The biggest orders will come from the state-run carriers. While Indian Airlines will soon place the largest aircraft order from India ever to buy 43 Airbus A320s, Air India Express will buy 18 Boeing aircraft and Air-India will need to buy at least 50 aircraft to meet its growth requirements. It is estimated that the two state-run carriers would invest over $5 billion in the next few years to modernise their fleet. |
| Air Deccan (which has a fleet of 16 now, with 3 Airbus and 13 turbo propelled small aircraft) has ordered 30 A320s for delivery from 2007 to 2010, plus options to buy another 25 airplanes. |
| Kingfisher Airlines signed a contract with Airbus in December for four A320s and exercised six options, making a total of ten aircraft on firm order. In addition, Kingfisher Airlines will have options to buy 20 aircraft. |
| Kingfisher expects to take delivery of these A320s at a rate of up to 9 aircraft per year until 2008. Kingfisher has also recently concluded an agreement to lease four A320s from Debis Airfinance, to launch operations in April 2005. |
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