IA to lease 2 Airbus aircraft

Indian Airlines is set to acquire two Airbus A330-200 aircraft on lease from French airplane trading company Avequis.

Sources said the lease would be for seven year and the aircraft would be deployed in the India-China or the India-South Afrcia routes. Avequis, an aircraft management and remarketing company, is also engaged in providing technical consultancy services and debt-equity funding sources for its clients.

Indian Airlines is expected to make an announcement in this regard in the Air Show 2007 in Bangalore.

Senior Indian Airlines executives declined to comment on the issue. The details of lease rentals are not known.

Sources said the A330-200 aircraft were likely to join the airline's fleet by October this year. "The airline is also set to ink a mega deal with Canadian aerospace major Pratt & Whitney for engines for the Airbus family aircraft," they added.